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Probiotic Administration in Infants With Gastroschisis: A Pilot Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Weston T Powell1, Robyn A Borghese1, Karen M Kalanetra2
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA.
Insights
This pilot study investigated the gut microbiota in infants with gastroschisis. Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis partially altered the microbiota but did not shorten hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Infants with gastroschisis often face prolonged hospitalization and gastric suctioning.
- The effects of these treatments on the intestinal microbiota are not well understood.
- Altering the gut microbial community in these infants has not been previously studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of gastroschisis treatment on the intestinal microbiota.
- To determine if probiotic administration can modify the gut microbiota in infants with gastroschisis.
- To assess whether altering the microbiota influences hospitalization duration.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study involving 24 infants with gastroschisis.
- Administration of the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis or a placebo.
- Primary outcome: changes in fecal microbiota; Secondary outcome: length of hospital stay.
Main Results:
- Probiotic and placebo administration were well-tolerated, even with gastric suctioning.
- No significant differences in overall microbial communities between groups.
- Probiotic group showed higher Bifidobacteriaceae and lower Clostridiaceae, with trends for other families.
Conclusions:
- Gastroschisis significantly impacts the intestinal microbiota in infants.
- Administration of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis partially attenuated these changes.
- Hospitalization length did not differ between probiotic and placebo groups in this pilot study.
Objectives:
Infants with gastroschisis often require long periods of gastric suctioning and hospitalization. The impact of these interventions on the intestinal microbiota and attempts to alter the microbial community have not been studied. We sought to determine how the intestinal microbiota is influenced by the current treatment of gastroschisis and whether alteration of the intestinal microbiota with a probiotic microbe will influence length of hospitalization.
Methods:
We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of administration of probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis in 24 infants with gastroschisis. The primary outcome was changes in the fecal microbiota, and the secondary outcome was length of hospital stay.
Results:
Administration of the probiotic or placebo was well tolerated, even during the period of gastric suctioning. The overall microbial communities were not significantly different between groups, although analysis of the final specimens by family demonstrated higher Bifidobacteriaceae, lower Clostridiaceae, and trends toward lower Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, Staphylococcaceae, and Streptococcaceae in the probiotic group. Clinical outcomes, including length of hospital stay, did not differ between groups.
Conclusions:
In this pilot study, there was significant in infants with gastroschisis that was partially attenuated by the administration of B longum subsp. infantis.
