Researchers investigated the safety and efficacy of recombinant human lactoferrin (talactoferrin), the iron-binding protein of milk, in reducing hospital-acquired infections in infants, in a study published by The Journal of Pediatrics.
They conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial in infants. Infants received enteral talactoferrin, or TLf, or placebo until their 28th day of life. Primary outcomes were bacteremia, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis. Secondary outcomes were sepsis syndrome and suspected necrotizing enterocolitis.
Researchers did not find any enteral or organ-specific adverse events to TLf. The rate of hospital-acquired infections was 50 percent lower in the TLf group compared with the placebo group. The TLf group also had fewer blood or line infections, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.
Additionally, there was no difference between the two groups in growth or neurodevelopment over a one year post-hospitalization period.