Establishment and development of intestinal microbiota in preterm neonates.

ARBOLEYA, S.; BINETTI, A. G.; SALAZAR, N.; SOLÍS, G.; HERNÁNDEZ, A.; MARGOLLES, A.; DE LOS REYES-GAVILÁN, C.

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: NY; Año: 2012 vol. 79 p. 763 - 777

0168-6496

Objective: The profile of intestinal microbiota in the breast-fed infant is considered as ideally healthy and a reference for improving infant formulas. Microbial colonization of the infant gut is essential for the development of the intestine and the immune system, providing the first step for later health. In preterm infants, due to antibiotics use and hospital stay, this process is challenging. To assist in a proper microbiota development in these infants a detailed knowledge of the colonization process, and of differences from that of full-term breast-fed infants, is needed. Study design: We assessed the establishment of the gut microbiota and its metabolic activity in preterm neonates (n=21) during the first three months of life and compared it with that of vaginaly-delivered, exclusively breast-fed full-term infants (n=20) by using qualitative and quantitative culture-independent methods. Results: Clear differences in the gut microbiota composition between both groups were observed. Preterm infants showed higher levels of facultative microorganisms and reduced levels of anaerobes such as Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides and Atopobium. SCFA concentrations were lower in preterm infants during the first days of life. Conclusion: Profound alterations occur in the process of microbiota establishment in preterm infants, indicating the need for intervention strategies to counteract them.