Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis is a critical health status, which mostly occurs in
premature infants. It is recognized as the most common and deadly gastrointestinal disease
in preterm infants. Necrotizing enterocolitis can be divided in five stages of the disease
according to modified Bell staging criteria. Symptoms and signs include abdominal
distention, bloody stool, food intolerance, bradycardia, apnea, temperature instability, signs
of ileus and free gas in the abdomen and intestine. Purpose: The purpose is to present
necrotizing enterocolitis and its treatment, to present knowledge, necessary for nurses
taking care for newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis and to present findings of published
articles, researching reventive strategies and risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Methods: A descriptive research approach was used to review literature written in Slovene
and English. Literature was searched by Medline, Cinahl, Dikul, Pubmed and Google
Schoolar from February 2021 to November 2021. We used 20 units of literature, fully
available online to members of University Ljubljana. Results: Nurses need to be aware of
gastrointestinal and systemic signs, preventive strategies and risk factors regarding
necrotising enterocolitis. Most researchers consider immaturity and formula feeding as risk
factors and breast milk feeding and use of standardized feeding regimens as preventice
strategies. However researchers dissagree on some risk factors and preventive strategies
such as use of probiotics, antibiotics and red blood cell transfusion. Discussion and
conclusion: Preventive strategies against necrotizing enterocolitis include breast milk
feeding and implementation of standardised feeding regimens, however scientist have
different opinions regarding use of probiotics. Risk factors include prematurity and
formula feeding. Scientist have yet again contradictive views about red blood cell
transfusion, maternal smoking, advancment of enteral feeding and congenital heart
diseases. Some also emphasize the meaning of communication in interdisciplinary team for
early recognition and treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis. New studies are centred
towards the use of probiotics, antenetal steroids, immunoglobulin and growth factors as
preventive strategies. Some also give consideration to modifying Bell staging criteria or
even replacing it.
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