Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
06:51
Microfluidic Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incorporating Human Neonatal Intestinal Enteroids and a Dysbiotic Microbiome
Published on: July 28, 2023
Gut Microbiome in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis - A Comprehensive Review of Evidence
Usha Devi1, Balamurugan Ramadass2, Abdul Kareem Pullattayil3
1Department of Neonatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|July 12, 2026
Summary
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants is linked to gut microbiome changes like reduced diversity and specific bacterial overgrowth. These alterations may precede NEC, offering potential for early detection and prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal emergency in preterm infants, causing significant morbidity and mortality.
- Intestinal microbiome disturbances are key to NEC pathogenesis, influenced by immature barriers, immune responses, and environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on gut microbiome alterations associated with NEC in preterm infants.
- To identify potential windows for early risk identification and microbiome-targeted interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases.
- Inclusion of 42 studies analyzing microbial composition, progression, and functional patterns in relation to NEC.
- Review of clinical and environmental factors influencing neonatal gut microbiome development.
Main Results:
- NEC is commonly preceded by reduced microbial diversity, delayed anaerobic community maturation, and expansion of Proteobacteria (e.g., Enterobacteriaceae).
- Microbiome changes can be detected days to weeks before clinical NEC onset.
- Altered microbial metabolic pathways and viral signatures contribute to epithelial injury and inflammation.
Conclusions:
- A reproducible pattern of intestinal dysbiosis consistently precedes NEC in preterm infants.
- Understanding microbiome dynamics is crucial for early risk stratification.
- Targeting the microbiome may offer preventive strategies for vulnerable preterm populations.
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