Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of hospitalisation and preventable death among Aboriginal infants. The first microbes encountered by the infant gut shape systemic immune development and future susceptibility to infection. Through an international partnership, we propose a randomised controlled trial to determine if neonatal probiotics can reduce the risk of ARI in the first year of life.
Eligible infants aged <=3 days will be randomised into two groups where one group will receive orally the active probiotics treatment and another group will receive a placebo for 7 consecutive days total. Participants will be followed up at 1-, 4- and 7-months besides their baseline and post intervention visits and medical-review only at 12 months. Secondary aims will evaluate safety, the gut microbiome and immune development.