Can prophylactic oral erythromycin reduce time to full enteral feeds in preterm neonates?

Efficacy of oral, prophylactic erythromycin in reducing the time to establi sh full enteral feeds (150 ml/kg/day) was assessed in neonates <32 weeks, r eady for enteral feeds. Seventy-three consecutive neonates were randomised to receive oral erythromycin ethyl succinate (n=36) or placebo (n=37) in a double-blind trial until full enteral feeds or 14 days of therapy were reac hed. A prospectively designed feeding regimen, including plan of action for signs of feed intolerance, was common for all: enrolled neonates, The medi an gestational age, birth weight and postnatal age at start of feeds were 2 9 versus 30 weeks (p=0.40), 1232 versus 1280 g (p=0.96) and 5 versus 5 days (p=0.84) for erythromycin and placebo group, respectively. Time to achieve full feeds was not significantly different in the two groups. (median time s: erythromycin 93.5 versus placebo 104 hours, p=0.60), Erythromycin-relate d side-effects did not occur.