Administration of \u03b2-lactam antibiotics and delivery method correlate with intestinal abundances of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroides in early infancy, in Japan

Naruaki Imoto,Shin Watanabe,Yumi Aoyagi,Shuko Nojiri,Hidekazu Maruyama,Naoyuki Hashiguchi,Fumitaka Amanuma,Chie Kano,Hiroto Morita

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-85670-z

Abstract

The intestinal microbiome changes dynamically in early infancy. Colonisation by Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides and development of intestinal immunity is interconnected. We performed a prospective observational cohort study to determine the influence of antibiotics taken by the mother immediately before delivery on the intestinal microbiome of 130 healthy Japanese infants. Faecal samples (383) were collected at 1, 3, and 6 months and analysed using next-generation sequencing. Cefazolin was administered before caesarean sections, whereas ampicillin was administered in cases with premature rupture of the membranes and in Group B Streptococcus-positive cases. Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides were dominant (60–70% mean combined occupancy) at all ages. A low abundance of Bifidobacterium was observed in infants exposed to antibiotics at delivery and at 1 and 3 months, with no difference between delivery methods. A lower abundance of Bacteroides was observed after caesarean section than vaginal delivery, irrespective of antibiotic exposure. Additionally, occupancy by Bifidobacterium at 1 and 3 months and by Bacteroides at 3 months differed between infants with and without siblings. All these differences disappeared at 6 months. Infants exposed to intrapartum antibiotics displayed altered Bifidobacterium abundance, whereas abundance of Bacteroides was largely associated with the delivery method. Existence of siblings also significantly influenced the microbiota composition of infants.

Highlights

Background factors Number of infantsNumber of females Gestational age at birtha Birth weighta Maternal antimicrobial use at delivery Caesarean section Premature rupture of membrane Group B Streptococcus-positive status Infants with older siblings Exclusive Breast feeding Age of Mothersa Maternal history of allergy Neonatal respiratory disorder Neonatal jaundice respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection Maternal history of smoking Maternal history of Hyperthyroidism Maternal history of Diabetes Mellitus BifidobacteriumOdds Variances RatioGestational daysa Birth weightaAge of m othersa Male Vaginal deliveryInfants without 3.03 siblings 1.09 8.43 * 0.03 0.39 ***
While dropouts from 1 to 3 months were due to antibiotic administration in eight cases, no samples were received in one case, and a nonanalysable sample was received at 3 months in one case, dropouts from 3 to 6 months were due to antibiotic administration in one case and a non-analysable sample at 6 months in one case
Antibiotics were used immediately before delivery in about 55% of cases at each age. caesarean section, Group B Streptococcus (GBS)-positive, and premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) cases accounted for about 20%, 15%, and 15% of all cases at each age, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Number of females Gestational age at birtha Birth weighta Maternal antimicrobial use at delivery Caesarean section Premature rupture of membrane Group B Streptococcus-positive status Infants with older siblings Exclusive Breast feeding Age of Mothersa Maternal history of allergy Neonatal respiratory disorder Neonatal jaundice RSV infection Maternal history of smoking Maternal history of Hyperthyroidism Maternal history of Diabetes Mellitus Bifidobacterium. Age of m othersa Male Vaginal delivery. Infants without 3.03 siblings 1.09 8.43 * 0.03 0.39 ***

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion