Factors Associated with the development of gut microbiome of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

Author

• Fangfang Li, Universiti Malaya

Date of Award

7-8-2025

Thesis Type

Masters

Document Type

Dissertation

Divisions

Faculty of Medicine

Department

Department of Paediatrics

Institution

Universiti Malaya

Abstract

The colonization and evolution of gut microbiota early in life play a vital role in shaping a healthy, robust immune system for infant health, whether in combating shortterm illness or in improving long-term health outcomes. Early-life clinical practices may interrupt or disrupt the normal colonization process of the infant gut microbiota, there by increasing disease susceptibility. In this prospective cohort study, we analyzed the gutmicrobiota of 46 full-term and 23 preterm infants using 16S rRNA gene metagenomic sequencing. Stool samples were collected at six time points during the first three months of life. Notably, gestational age was the main factor contributing to differences in the meconium microbial composition. Intriguingly, our study unveiled a more homogeneous microbial composition in preterm infants with more abundant Bifidobacterium from the postnatal age of one month. Concurrently, the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus gradually increased, and the potentially pathogenic bacteria Clostridium, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas gradually decreased. Furthermore, our study found that exclusive breastfeeding and antibiotic exposure reduced microbial diversity in preterm infants. Moreover, preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) exhibited reduced microbial diversity but higher abundances of Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus mitis. These findings shed light on the intricate interplay between early life events, gut microbiota composition, and infant health.

Initial

khm

Additional Information

Dissertation (M.A.) – Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 2025.

Recommended Citation

Li, Fangfang, "Factors Associated with the development of gut microbiome of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit" (2025). Student Works (2020-2029). 1988.
https://knova.um.edu.my/student_works_2020s/1988

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.