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Mode of Delivery Determines Neonatal Pharyngeal Bacterial Composition and Early Intestinal Colonization

David E Brumbaugh1, Jaime Arruda, Kristen Robbins

  • 1*Department of Pediatrics †Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology ‡Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora §Department of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver ||Microbiome Research Consortium, Aurora, CO.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|April 2, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Cesarean delivery (CS) disrupts infant oral and gut bacteria, leading to altered microbial succession and a deficit in beneficial Bacteroidetes compared to vaginal delivery (VD). Early oral bacteria do not consistently colonize the infant gut.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Neonatal Health

Background:

  • Infant gut microbiome development influences immune function and allergy risk.
  • Early bacterial colonization patterns and their determinants are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the impact of delivery mode (cesarean vs. vaginal) on initial infant oropharyngeal (OP) bacterial inoculation.
  • Determine the relationship between OP colonization and subsequent intestinal microbial succession.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 23 mother/infant pairs.
  • Collected maternal swabs, infant OP aspirates, and infant stool.
  • Utilized 16S rRNA and shotgun DNA metagenomic sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Vaginal delivery (VD) infants showed more maternal-like OP bacteria (Firmicutes), while cesarean (CS) infants had skin bacteria.
  • CS infants had a different oral inoculum, chaotic bacterial succession, and fewer intestinal Bacteroidetes.
  • Infant fecal microbiomes differed from maternal samples regardless of delivery mode.

Conclusions:

  • Cesarean delivery alters the initial oral microbiome, impacting infant gut bacterial succession.
  • Early oral bacteria may influence the intestinal environment, affecting microbial development.
  • Delivery mode significantly shapes early infant gut microbial composition and function.
Abstract

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