Mode of Birth Influences Preterm Infant Intestinal Colonization With Bacteroides Over the Early Neonatal Period

Abstract

Background Intestinal colonization during infancy is important to short and long term health outcomes. Bacteroides, an early member of the intestinal microbiome, are necessary for breaking down complex molecules within the intestine and function to assist the body’s immune system in fighting against potentially harmful pathogens. Little is known about the colonization pattern of Bacteroides in preterm infants during the early neonatal period. Purpose This study measured Bacteroides colonization during the early neonatal period in a population of preterm infants based on clinical factors including mode of birth, antibiotics, and nutrition. Methods Bacterial DNA was isolated from 144 fecal samples from 29 preterm infants and analyzed using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Analyses included liner mixed models to determine which clinical factors affect Bacteroides colonization of the infant gut. Results We found that infants born via vaginal canal had a higher rate of increase in Bacteroides than infants born via Cesarean section (p<.001). We did not find significant associations between antibiotic administration and differences in nutritional exposures with Bacteroides colonization. Implications for Practice These findings highlight the significant influence of mode of birth on Bacteroides colonization. While mode of birth is not always modifiable, these study findings may help develop interventions for preterm infants born via Cesarean section aimed at overcoming delayed Bacteroides colonization. Implications for Research Greater study of the intestinal microbiome and the clinical factors relevant to the preterm infant is needed so that interventions may be developed and tested, resulting in optimal microbial and immune health.

Personalization of the Microbiota of Donor Human Milk with Mother’s Own Milk

“…Birth mode of delivery has been shown to affect the microbiota of breast milk in the majority of studies, suggesting a difference in the milk microbiome between infants born via c-section and those born vaginally ( Azad et al, 2013 ; Gregory et al, 2015 ; Liu et al, 2015 ; Brumbaugh et al, 2016 ; Dominguez-Bello et al, 2016 ; Lee et al, 2016 ; Nagpal et al, 2016 ; Rutayisire et al, 2016 ). In our study, we observed a differential clustering of microbiomes from the breast milk of c-sections versus vaginally delivering mothers.…”

C-section and the Neonatal Gut Microbiome Acquisition: Consequences for Future Health

“…However, it seems a common point that Bacteriodes are one of the most affected microbes by delivery mode. It was observed that Bacteroides was depleted or was present at low levels in full-term babies born by CS [15], even in the absence of antibiotic treatment to mothers before surgery [16], and in premature babies [17].…”

Necrotizing enterocolitis associated with dysbiosis of preterm gut microbiome: A review

“…The fetal gut contains no bacteria and bacterial DNA sequences have been identified in freshly produced meconium (Michel et al, 2017). However the initial colonization of the fetal gut is affected by several factors including mode of delivery (Gregory et al, 2015 (Pearl and Allan, 2016). The gut microbiome plays an important role during the physiological development of humans.…”