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The premature infant gut microbiome during the first 6 weeks of life differs based on gestational maturity at birth

Diana A Chernikova1, Juliette C Madan2,3, Molly L Housman4

  • 1Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.

Pediatric Research
|May 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Premature infant gut microbiota is impacted by gestational age and early antibiotic exposure. These factors influence gut bacterial diversity and abundance, differing significantly from term infants.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Neonatal health
  • Pediatric gastroenterology

Background:

  • The gut microbiota of premature infants is understudied compared to term infants.
  • Understanding factors influencing infant gut colonization is crucial for health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of gestational age at birth and postnatal exposures on gut bacterial colonization in infants.
  • To compare gut microbiota composition between premature and term infants.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 16S rDNA microbiome profiling on stool samples from premature and term infants.
  • Inclusion of data from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study.

Main Results:

  • Gut bacterial alpha-diversity at 6 weeks differed between premature and term infants (p=0.027).
  • Significant differences in alpha-diversity were observed across different prematurity groups (extremely, very, and moderate-to-late preterm).
  • Antibiotic use in premature infants correlated with reduced Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides abundance (p=0.015 and p=0.041).

Conclusions:

  • Gestational age at birth is a significant determinant of premature infant gut microbiota.
  • Early antibiotic exposure profoundly affects the developing gut microbiome in preterm infants.
Abstract

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