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Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
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Impact of childhood malnutrition and intestinal microbiota on MDR infections

Thomas Holowka1, David van Duin1, Luther A Bartelt1

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 130 Mason Farm Rd, CB #7030, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Jac-Antimicrobial Resistance
|April 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Malnourished children in low-income countries face higher risks of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections. Understanding the gut microbiota

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Global Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) disproportionately impact children in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Malnutrition increases vulnerability to intestinal pathogens and MDRO infections, including ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.
  • The interplay between malnutrition, intestinal barrier function, immunity, and the gut microbiota in MDRO infection requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define the relationship between malnutrition and multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infection in vulnerable pediatric populations.
  • To explore the role of the intestinal microbiota in mediating the increased risk of MDRO infections associated with malnutrition.
  • To identify potential microbiota-targeted strategies for mitigating MDRO infections in malnourished children.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current evidence from human studies and animal models.
  • Analysis of the impact of diet and intestinal microbiota on nutritional status and infectious outcomes.
  • Exploration of mechanisms linking malnutrition-induced immune and barrier dysfunction to pathogen susceptibility.

Main Results:

  • Malnourished children exhibit increased intestinal carriage and invasive infections with intestinal-derived MDROs.
  • Impaired intestinal barrier function and compromised immunity in malnutrition heighten susceptibility to pathogens.
  • The gut microbiota plays a significant role in determining nutritional status and infectious disease risk.

Conclusions:

  • Diet and the intestinal microbiota are critical determinants of nutritional status and infectious outcomes.
  • Targeting the gut microbiota offers a promising avenue for combating MDRO infections in malnourished populations.
  • Further research is needed to develop and implement effective microbiota-based interventions globally.

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