Grading the evidence to identify strategies to modify risk for necrotizing enterocolitis

Although risk for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is often presented from the perspective of a premature infant’s vulnerability to nonmodifiable risk factors, in this paper we describe the evidence and present recommendations to manage modifiable risks that are amenable to clinical actions. Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria, we present recommendations in the context of their supporting evidence in a way that balances risks (e.g. potential harm, cost) and benefits. Across the prenatal, intrapartum, early and late clinical course, strategies to limit NEC risk in premature infants are presented. Our goal is to summarize modifiable NEC risk factors, grade the evidence to offer quality improvement (QI) targets for healthcare teams and offer a patient-family advocate’s perspective on how to engage parents to recognize and reduce NEC risk.