Objective      To determine the effect of probiotics as supplement in early enteral nutrition on infection status of patients with severe brain injury.       Methods      Thirty-eight patients with identified severe brain injury and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 5 to 8 for over 12 h who admitted in Chongqing Center of Emergency from September 2011 to July 2012 were enrolled in this study. They were randomized into study group (

n

=17) and control group (

n

=21)

with no signifi

cant difference in age

GCS score

sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA)

and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE Ⅱ). All patients received enteral nutrition

via

nasogastric tube within 24-72 h following admission

and those from the former group was supported with probiotics in the nutrition. In 1

4

7 and 15 d after enteral nutrition

fasting blood samples were collected for the counts of leukocyte and lymphocyte

and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and other indicators. The infection time and severity

ICU time

GCS

SOFA

and APACHEⅡscore during were recorded and compared in 2 groups.       Results      The study group had a lower count of leukocytes and level of CRP than control group on day 7 (

P

<

0.05)

and lower level of CRP on day 15 (

P

<

0.05). However

there was no difference in terms of lymphocyte in each time point（

P

>0.05）. The incidences of total infection and pulmonary infection rate were significantly lower in study group than in control group (

P

<

0.05). The hospitalization time was also shorter in the form than in the later group (

P

<

0.05). The former group had a higher GCS scores on day 15 compared with the later group（

P

<

0.05）.       Conclusion      Compared with early enteral nutrition

supplement of probiotics lowers infectious rate

shortens ICU time and promotes prognosis in patients with severe brain injury.