Pathogen-specific alterations in intestinal microbiota precede urinary tract infections in preterm infants: a longitudinal case-control study.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common late-onset infections in preterm infants, characterized by nonspecific symptoms and a pathogenic spectrum that diverges from that of term infants and older children, which present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Existing data on the role of gut microbiota in UTI pathogenesis in this demographic are limited. This study aims to investigate alterations in gut microbiota and fecal calprotectin levels and their association with the development of UTIs in hospitalized preterm infants.

Dynamics and Crosstalk between Gut Microbiota, Metabolome, and Fecal Calprotectin in Very Preterm Infants: Insights into Feeding Intolerance.

Background: Feeding intolerance (FI) is a significant concern in the care of preterm infants, impacting their growth and development. We previously reported that FI is linked to lower fecal calprotectin (FC) levels. This study aims to explore the postnatal dynamics and interplay between microbiota, metabolic profiles, and host immunity in preterm infants with and without FI.

Postnatal Dynamics and Clinical Associations of Fecal Calprotectin in Very Preterm Infants: Implications for Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Feeding Intolerance.

Introduction: To elucidate the postnatal dynamics and clinical associations of fecal calprotectin (FC) in very preterm infants, with a focus on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and feeding intolerance (FI).

Methods: We performed a prospective observational cohort study in infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks or birth weight <1,500 g with weekly feces collection. The relationships between FC, NEC, and FI were investigated, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors.

Early Antibiotic Use and Neonatal Outcomes Among Preterm Infants Without Infections.

Objectives: To determine whether use, duration, and types of early antibiotics were associated with neonatal outcomes and late antibiotic use in preterm infants without infection-related diseases.

Methods: This cohort study enrolled infants admitted to 25 tertiary NICUs in China within 24 hours of birth during 2015-2018. Death, discharge, or infection-related morbidities within 7 days of birth; major congenital anomalies; and error data on antibiotic use were excluded.