Abstract
The pattern and timing of development of intestinal microflora in Nigerian infants have been scarcely researched. This study was carried out to investigate the bacteria flora in the rectum of healthy neonates in Ibadan, Nigeria. In this hospital-based longitudinal study, rectal swabs of 70 neonates were taken within 6-12 h of birth (day 1) and subsequently on days 3, 9, and 14. Information collected included maternal sociodemographic characteristics, antibiotic use for the neonates, and type of feeding during the first 14 days of life. Identification and speciation of gram-negative isolates were done using the Analytical Profile Index 20E® and 20NE® as appropriate. Gram-positive bacteria were identified biochemically using the catalase and coagulase tests. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square at p = 0.05. Majority (92.9%) of the neonates were delivered vaginally with a median gestational age of 38 weeks (range = 34-42). On the first day of life, Escherichia coli was isolated more frequently from the rectal swabs of preterm (50.0%) than term (23.1%) neonates (p = 0.031). On day 3 of life, coagulase-negative staphylococcus was the most frequently isolated bacteria from the rectal swabs of nonasphyxiated (64.4%) compared with asphyxiated (27.3%) neonates' rectal swabs (p = 0.042). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated bacteria from the rectal swabs of nonexclusively breastfed (66.7%) than exclusively breastfed (21.3%) neonates on day 14 (p = 0.004). Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the predominant isolates from the rectum of Nigerian neonates, and these isolates were influenced by breastfeeding and mild-moderate asphyxia. In all, bacterial diversity in the rectum increased as the neonates got older.
Highlights
The composition of intestinal bacterial flora is critical because of its role in nutrition, immune modulation, and biosynthesis of vitamins among other benefits [1]
The types of bacterial flora acquired by a neonate are influenced by the mode of delivery, infant care practices such as type of feeding, the cleanness of the nursing environment, hospitalization, administration of antibiotics to the neonate, and maturity at the time of delivery [7, 9]
The diversity of the bacteria composition was limited to 18 genera comprising Aeromonas, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Bacteroides, Chryseobacteria, Citrobacter, Clostridium, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Kluyvera, Pantoea, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Raoultella, Serratia, Staphylococcus, and Vibrio
Summary
The composition of intestinal bacterial flora is critical because of its role in nutrition, immune modulation, and biosynthesis of vitamins among other benefits [1]. Attention is on the health benefits and consequences of modification of bacterial composition of the intestine in early life. Studies have associated diseases such as kwashiorkor, obesity, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus with pattern of bacterial microflora in early life [2, 4,5,6]. The knowledge of the composition of the intestinal bacteria flora and its developmental pattern as well as possible alterations in different populations has become important in recent times. The development of intestinal bacterial population starts early in neonatal life and it is, to an extent, determined by the exposure of the baby to bacteria in the immediate environment [7, 8]. The types of bacterial flora acquired by a neonate are influenced by the mode of delivery, infant care practices such as type of feeding, the cleanness of the nursing environment, hospitalization, administration of antibiotics to the neonate, and maturity at the time of delivery [7, 9]
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