Antibiotic Exposure, Common Morbidities and Main Intestinal Microbial Groups in Very Preterm Neonates: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Neonatal Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Premature infants face higher infection risks and critical morbidities.
• Antibiotic use in neonates can disrupt the developing gut microbiota.
• Understanding gut microbial shifts is crucial for preterm infant health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate specific intestinal bacteria in preterm neonates with common morbidities.
• To assess the impact of variable antibiotic treatment durations on gut microbiota.
• To correlate bacterial levels with clinical conditions and antibiotic exposure.

Main Methods:

• Stool sample collection at multiple time points (birth, 15, 30, 90 days).
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR) to measure key microbial groups (Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, Enterobacteriaceae, Clostridium cluster I, total bacteria).
• Correlation analysis between microbial counts, antibiotic duration, and clinical factors.

Main Results:

• All measured microbial groups showed an increasing trend over time, particularly Bifidobacterium spp.
• Prolonged antibiotics temporarily reduced Clostridium and B. fragilis, with recovery by 90 days.
• Bacterial variations correlated with hospital stay, feeding methods, and mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions:

• Specific morbidities like late-onset sepsis and patent ductus arteriosus negatively impacted Bifidobacterium counts.
• Compromised respiratory conditions influenced B. fragilis levels.
• This research provides a foundation for identifying microbial biomarkers and developing strategies for healthy preterm infant gut development.