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Regulation of the bacterial intestinal implantation in infant born by caesarean section
E Bezirtzoglou1, M B Romond, C Romond
1Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Insights
Human milk promotes beneficial Bifidobacterium (B. bifidum) growth, inhibiting harmful Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) in newborns. Even without human milk, B. bifidum presence reduces C. perfringens colonization in bottle-fed infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal microbiome research
- Bacterial gut colonization
- Infant nutrition and health
Background:
- Caesarean section delivery can alter infant gut microbiome development.
- Early infant feeding practices significantly influence bacterial implantation in the neonatal gut.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulation of bacterial intestinal implantation in newborns delivered via caesarean section.
- To correlate gut flora with infant feeding modes.
Main Methods:
- Observational study involving 19 newborns delivered by caesarean section.
- Analysis of fecal bacterial counts.
- Correlation of bacterial flora with infant feeding type (human milk vs. artificial alimentation).
Main Results:
- Human milk feeding promoted Bifidobacterium (B. bifidum) proliferation.
- Artificial alimentation favored Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) implantation.
- B. bifidum presence independently reduced C. perfringens counts in bottle-fed infants (P=0.05).
Conclusions:
- Infant feeding mode critically impacts neonatal gut bacterial colonization.
- Bifidobacterium plays a key role in modulating C. perfringens implantation, independent of feeding type.
- Targeting B. bifidum may be a strategy to manage neonatal gut dysbiosis.
Abstract:
Studies were undertaken to determine the regulation of the bacterial intestinal implantation in 19 newborns delivered by caesarean section. Correlation was made with the infant feeding mode. The effect of human milk seemed to be the result of B. bifidum proliferation, in contrast to artificial alimentation that seemed to favour C. perfringens implantation. The question was raised by us as to whether this opposition was only related to alimentation. In fact, B. bifidum itself also had an effect as demonstrated by the lower mean counts of C. perfringens in bottle-fed infants carrying the bifido-bacterial flora (P = 0.05). None of the other faecal bacteria investigated in this study led to the same decrease.