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Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on the Gut Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistome Development in Preterm Infants

Eirin Esaiassen1,2, Erik Hjerde3, Jorunn Pauline Cavanagh1,2

  • 1Paediatric Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|December 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis in extremely preterm infants may enhance gut microbiota colonization resistance. This intervention appears to mitigate the negative effects of antibiotics on the infant gut microbiome and resistome.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal gut microbiome research
  • Probiotic effects on infant gut microbiota
  • Antibiotic resistome in preterm infants

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) prevention in extremely preterm infants often involves probiotic supplementation.
  • The impact of probiotics and antibiotics on the developing gut microbiota and antibiotic resistome in preterm infants requires further investigation.
  • This study compares probiotic-supplemented extremely preterm infants with non-supplemented very preterm and healthy term infants.

Observation:

  • Fecal samples from 76 infants (31 extremely preterm on probiotics, 35 very preterm off probiotics, 10 term controls) were analyzed via shotgun-metagenome sequencing at 7 days, 28 days, and 4 months.
  • Extremely preterm infants receiving probiotics showed a significantly higher relative abundance of Bifidobacterium at 7 days compared to other groups.
  • While Lactobacillus abundance increased over time, it remained low across all groups.

Findings:

  • Probiotic supplementation led to increased Bifidobacterium colonization in extremely preterm infants within the first week of life.
  • Despite higher antibiotic exposure in the probiotic group, overall microbial diversity and resistome were comparable to more mature infants at 4 weeks and 4 months.
  • Two cases of NEC requiring surgery were observed in the probiotic-supplemented extremely preterm group.

Implications:

  • Probiotic use may establish colonization resistance, protecting the infant gut microbiota from disruption by antibiotics.
  • This suggests a potential strategy to mitigate the long-term effects of antibiotic therapy on the preterm infant gut microbiome.
  • Further research is warranted to fully understand the protective mechanisms and optimize probiotic interventions in vulnerable infant populations.

Keywords:
bifidobacteriacolonization resistancegut microbiotalactobacillipreterm infantshotgun metagenome sequencingtaxonomy

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