Human milk microbiota, oligosaccharide profiles, and infant gut microbiome in preterm infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease of very preterm infants with mother's own milk (MOM) providing protection, but the contribution of the MOM microbiota to NEC risk has not been explored. Here, we analyze MOM of 110 preterm infants (48 NEC, 62 control) in a cross-sectional study. Breast milk contains viable bacteria, but there is no significant difference in MOM microbiota between NEC and controls.

Impact of Transfer for Surgical Management of Preterm Necrotising Enterocolitis or Focal Intestinal Perforation.

Objective: To compare outcomes after surgically managed necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and focal intestinal perforation (FIP) in infants <32 weeks requiring transfer to or presenting in a single surgical centre.

Design: Retrospective review of transferred and inborn NEC or FIP, from January 2013 to December 2020.

Patients: 107 transfers with possible NEC or FIP contributed 92 cases (final diagnoses NEC (75) and FIP (17)); 113 inborn cases: NEC (84) and FIP (29).

Secretory immunoglobulin A in preterm infants: determination of normal values in breast milk and stool.

Background: IgA and its secretory form sIgA impact protection from infection and necrotising enterocolitis but little is known about quantities in preterm mums own milk (MOM) or infant stool, onset of endogenous production in the preterm gut, and what affects these.

Methods: We measured by ELISA in MOM and stool from healthy preterm infants total IgA and sIgA longitudinally and additionally in MOM fresh, refrigerated, frozen, and after traversing feeding systems.

Results: In 42 MOM (median gestation 26 weeks), we showed total IgA levels and sIgA were highest in colostrum, fell over 3 weeks, and were not impacted by gestation.

Use of omic technologies in early life gastrointestinal health and disease: from bench to bedside.

: At birth, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is colonized by a complex community of microorganisms, forming the basis of the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in host health, disorders of which can lead to an array of GI diseases, both short and long term. Pediatric GI diseases are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, but many remain poorly understood.

Human milk oligosaccharide DSLNT and gut microbiome in preterm infants predicts necrotising enterocolitis.

Objective: Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease primarily affecting preterm infants. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood: mother's own breast milk (MOM) is protective, possibly relating to human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) and infant gut microbiome interplay. We investigated the interaction between HMO profiles and infant gut microbiome development and its association with NEC.

Maternal breastmilk, infant gut microbiome and the impact on preterm infant health.

Aim: This narrative review summarises the benefits of maternal breastmilk to both the infant and the mother, specifically the benefits that relate to modification of the infant microbiome, and how this might vary in the preterm infant.

Methods: We used PubMed to primarily identify papers, reviews, case series and editorials published in English until May 2020. Based on this, we report on the components of breastmilk, their associated hypothesised benefits and the implications for clinical practice.