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Weight shapes the intestinal microbiome in preterm infants: results of a prospective observational study

Fardou H Heida1,2, Elisabeth M W Kooi3, Josef Wagner4

  • 1Division of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Isala Klinieken, University of Groningen, Zwolle, the Netherlands. f.h.heida@isala.nl.

BMC Microbiology
|July 22, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The mode of delivery impacts the early intestinal microbiome in preterm infants. Infant weight, not just age, better predicts microbiome development and maturation stages.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal microbiome research
  • Infant gut health
  • Microbiome development

Background:

  • Intestinal microbiome composition significantly differs between preterm and term infants.
  • The influence of infant-specific factors on microbiome development over time remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key factors influencing intestinal microbiome development in preterm infants.
  • To analyze the longitudinal changes in the preterm infant microbiome.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of clinical metadata alongside 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of meconium and fecal samples from preterm infants up to 4 weeks.
  • Inclusion of 41 infants with gestational ages of 25-30 weeks and birth weights of 430-990g.

Main Results:

  • Mode of delivery influenced meconium microbiome composition, with vaginal delivery associated with Escherichia and Bacteroides, and Cesarean section linked to Staphylococcus.
  • A shift in microbiome composition was observed with increasing infant weight, transitioning from Staphylococcus dominance to Enterobacteriaceae dominance.
  • Cesarean section was associated with placental insufficiency and lower birth weight.

Conclusions:

  • Delivery mode significantly affects the initial meconium microbiome composition in preterm infants.
  • Infant weight is a more reliable indicator of intestinal microbiome maturation than postconceptional age, being less influenced by confounding infant-specific factors.
Abstract

Keywords:
DevelopmentIntestinal microbiomeMode of deliveryPrematurityWeight

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