Probiotic Bacteria Could Protect Newborns From Deadly Infection by MICHAELEEN DOUCLEFF

Feeding babies the microbes dramatically reduces the risk newborns will develop sepsis, scientists report Wednesday in the journal Nature.First off, these #beneficial #bacteria can push out harmful bacteria in the baby's gut by changing the environment or simply using up resources, Lavoie says.The #probiotic bacteria also produces a compound that strengthens the wall of the #intestine. "It acts as a barrier to prevent the bad bacteria from going through the wall into the blood," he says.And, the probiotic bacteria can jump-start a baby's #immune system."They can promote maturation of the immune system in a healthier way," Lavoie says. "Probiotics can be much more powerful than drugs."http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/16/543920822/probiotic-bacteria-could-protect-newborns-from-deadly-infection