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Modulation of Clostridium perfringens intestinal colonization in infants delivered by caesarean section
E Bezirtzoglou1, M B Romond, C Romond
1University of Ioannina, Medical School, Greece.
Insights
Infant gut bacteria colonization by Clostridium perfringens is influenced by feeding method. Breastfeeding represses C. perfringens, while bottle-feeding supports its growth, unlike Bifidobacterium bifidum.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal microbiome research
- Gut microbiota and infant health
- Bacterial colonization in newborns
Background:
- Early life gut microbiota plays a crucial role in infant health.
- Clostridium perfringens colonization can occur in newborns.
- Feeding practices significantly impact infant gut flora development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the colonization patterns of Clostridium perfringens in infants.
- To determine the influence of feeding methods (breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding) on C. perfringens and Bifidobacterium bifidum colonization.
- To assess the role of Bifidobacterium bifidum in modulating C. perfringens levels.
Main Methods:
- Study included 19 infants delivered via caesarean section.
- Monitoring of C. perfringens and B. bifidum colonization during the first two weeks of life.
- Correlation analysis between feeding type and bacterial populations.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding repressed C. perfringens colonization, while bottle-feeding maintained it.
- Bifidobacterium bifidum colonization was favored by breastfeeding.
- Bottle-fed infants with B. bifidum showed reduced C. perfringens counts (p=0.05).
Conclusions:
- Feeding method is a key determinant of early infant gut microbiota composition.
- Breastfeeding actively modulates C. perfringens colonization, partly through promoting B. bifidum.
- Bifidobacterium bifidum may play a protective role against C. perfringens overgrowth in infants.
Abstract:
The colonization by Clostridium perfringens was investigated in 19 infants delivered by caesarean section during the two first weeks of life. The pattern of C. perfringens colonization depended upon the feeding. Breast feeding led to the repression of C. perfringens, whereas bottle feeding allowed its maintenance. On the contrary, Bifidobacterium bifidum growth was favoured by breast feeding. However, in one breast-fed infant, B. bifidum was never isolated and C. perfringens decreased. Breast feeding was able to directly modulate C. perfringens numbers. In fact, B. bifidum also had an effect, as demonstrated by the lower mean counts of C. perfringens, in bottle-fed infants carrying the bifidobacteria flora (p = 0.05). None of the bifidobacteria investigated in this study led to the same decrease.