Molecular identification of gas-forming coliforms in breast-fed colicky and healthy infants

Abstract

Aim. Excessive intestinal gas is thought to be the cause of abdominal discomfort in infants with infantile colic but data on the bowel bacteria potential responsible of the intraintestinal air load are scanty. At present findings reported some differences in gut micorbiota between colicky and healthy infants which could be involved in the aetiopathogenesis of such disturb. In this study, we aimed to investigate stool of colicky and healthy infants in order to evaluate the presence and quantity of coliforms with gas-forming capability through molecular analysis.