scholarly journals Viability-Resolved Metagenomics Reveals Antagonistic Colonization Dynamics of Staphylococcus epidermidis Strains on Preterm Infant Skin

mSphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Taylor Hellmann ◽  
Carly E. Tuura ◽  
James Fish ◽  
Jaimin M. Patel ◽  
D. Ashley Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infant ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Colonization Dynamics

The skin is a habitat for microbes that commonly infect preterm infants, but the use of sequencing for fine-scale study of the microbial communities of skin that develop in these infants has been limited by technical barriers. We treated skin swabs of preterm infants with a photoreactive dye that eliminates DNA from nonviable microbes and then sequenced the remaining DNA.

scholarly journals Necrotizing enterocolitis and the microbiome: Current status and future directions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Thänert ◽  
Eric C Keen ◽  
Gautam Dantas ◽  
Barbara B Warner ◽  
Phillip I Tarr
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Preterm Infant ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disorder ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Barrier Integrity ◽  
Microbial Dysbiosis

Abstract Decades of research have failed to define the pathophysiology of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating pediatric gastrointestinal disorder of preterm infants. However, recent evidence suggests that host-microbiota interactions, in which microbial dysbiosis is followed by loss of barrier integrity, inflammation, and necrosis, are central to NEC development. Thus, greater knowledge of the preterm infant microbiome could accelerate attempts to diagnose, treat, and prevent NEC. Here, we summarize clinical characteristics of and risk factors for NEC, the structure of the pre-event NEC microbiome, how this community interfaces with host immunology, and microbiome-based approaches that might prevent or lessen the severity of NEC in this very vulnerable population.

Kernicterus in Preterm Infants; Lest We Forget (To Turn on the Lights)

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-759
Author(s):  
N. KEVIN IVES
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Preterm Infant ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Neonatal Jaundice ◽  
Current Issue ◽  
Historical Review ◽  
Term Infants ◽  
Turn On ◽  
Treatment Thresholds ◽  
One Act

Watchko and Oski have a reputation for stimulating debate on the topic of neonatal jaundice. As scriptwriters of "Vigintiphobia: a one-act play,"1 they questioned the `standard practice' applied to the management of jaundice in otherwise healthy term infants. In the current issue of Pediatrics2 they again court controversy by turning their attention to treatment thresholds and the risk of kernicterus in jaundiced preterm infants. We are provided with a thoroughly researched historical review of the risk of kernicterus in the preterm infant from 1950 to the 1990s. The story is presented as a journey of experience from the pre-intensive care era, through the so-called `low bilirubin kernicterus era' (1965 through 1982), to the present.

Impaired Cytokine Responses to Live Staphylococcus epidermidis in Preterm Infants Precede Gram-positive, Late-onset Sepsis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Strunk ◽  
Julie Hibbert ◽  
Dorota Doherty ◽  
Elizabeth Nathan ◽  
Karen Simmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Cytokine Responses ◽  
Inflammatory Protein ◽  
Late Onset Sepsis ◽  
Immunological Mechanisms ◽  
Factor Α

Abstract Background Late-onset sepsis (LOS) with Staphylococcus epidermidis is common in preterm infants, but the immunological mechanisms underlying heightened susceptibility are poorly understood. Our aim is to characterize the ontogeny of cytokine responses to live S. epidermidis in preterm infants with and without subsequent Gram-positive LOS. Methods We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of preterm infants (<30 weeks gestational age [GA]) with blood sampling on Days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of life. Cytokine responses in peripheral whole blood stimulated with live S. epidermidis were analyzed by 11-plex immunoassay. Results Of 129 infants (mean GA, 26.2 weeks; mean birth weight, 887g), 23 (17.8%) had confirmed LOS with Gram-positive organisms and 15 (11.6%) had clinical sepsis, with median onsets at 13 and 15 days, respectively. Blood cytokine responses to an in vitro S. epidermidis challenge were similar between infected and uninfected infants on Day 1, but diverged thereafter. Infants with subsequent LOS displayed broadly reduced S. epidermidis–induced responses from Day 7 onwards, compared to those who did not develop LOS. This pattern was observed with chemokines (interleukin [IL]-8, monocyte chemotactic protein–1, and macrophage inflammatory protein–1α), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor–α) and the regulatory cytokine IL-10. Conclusions Cytokine responses to a live S. epidermidis challenge are impaired in infants with LOS and precede the onset of clinical illness. Quantifying pathogen-specific cytokine responses at Day 7 may identify those high-risk preterm infants at the greatest risk of LOS, and prospective replication is warranted.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an extremely preterm infant

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e239787
Author(s):  
Apoorva Aiyengar ◽  
Claire Howarth ◽  
Sujith Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Patent Ductus Arteriosus ◽  
Preterm Infant ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Ductus Arteriosus ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Differential Diagnoses ◽  
Cardiac Remodelling ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
Patent Ductus

We present a case of an extreme preterm infant (Baby X) born at 24-week gestation. The echocardiogram showed evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). There are a number of well-known causes of neonatal HCM including genetic, metabolic and endocrine. PDA is commonly present in preterm infants, and this can contribute to cardiac remodelling and result in cardiac changes mimicking HCM. Furthermore, medications such as steroids can also cause HCM through various mechanisms. A careful consideration of all the different aetiologies for HCM is important for appropriate management of such cases. This report examines the evidence in the literature for the above differential diagnoses and highlights the challenges in diagnosing the underlying cause of HCM in a preterm infant.

Association Between Autonomic and Motoric Systems in the Preterm Infant

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrine L. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Preterm Infant ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Developmental Status ◽  
Neurobehavioral Development ◽  
Synchronous Interaction ◽  
Behavioral Organization

In the clinical setting, fetal and infant movement is used as an indicator of central nervous system and neurobehavioral developmental status. Current models of neurobehavioral development include the synactive theory of neonatal behavioral organization, which defines and describes the interaction between five subsystems. Results of testing synchronous interaction between two of those systems–the autonomic and motoric subsystems in preterm infants–are reported here.

Association of maternal diabetes mellitus with preterm infant outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. fetalneonatal-2020-320054
Author(s):  
Abdul Razak ◽  
Maheer Faden
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Preterm Infant ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Periventricular Leukomalacia ◽  
Intraventricular Haemorrhage ◽  
Maternal Diabetes ◽  
Infant Outcomes ◽  
Meta Analyses

ContextThe association between maternal diabetes and outcomes of infants who are born preterm is unclear.ObjectiveTo perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies exploring the association between maternal diabetes and preterm infant outcomes.MethodsMedline, PubMed and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were searched without language restriction from 1 January 2000 until 19 August 2019. Studies examining preterm infants <37 weeks gestational age and reporting prespecified outcomes of this review based on maternal diabetes as primary exposure variable were included.ResultsOf 7956 records identified through database searches, 9 studies were included in the study. No significant association was found between maternal diabetes and in-hospital mortality (adjusted RR (aRR) 0.90 (95% CI 0.73 to 1.11); 6 studies; participants=1 191 226; I2=83%). Similarly, no significant association was found between maternal diabetes and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (aRR 1.00 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.07); 4 studies; participants=107 902; I2=0%), intraventricular haemorrhage or cystic periventricular leukomalacia (aRR 0.91 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.03); 3 studies; participants=115 050; I2=0%), necrotising enterocolitis (aRR 1.13 (95% CI 0.90 to 1.42); 5 studies; participants=142 579; I2=56%) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (aRR 1.17 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.61); 5 studies; participants=126 672; I2=84). A sensitivity analysis where low risk of bias studies were included in the meta-analyses showed similar results; however, the heterogeneity was lower for in-hospital mortality and ROP.ConclusionMaternal diabetes was not associated with in-hospital mortality and severe neonatal morbidities in preterm infants. Future studies should explore the association between the severity of maternal diabetes with preterm infant outcomes.

scholarly journals Functional Responses of Salt Marsh Microbial Communities to Long-Term Nutrient Enrichment

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 2862-2871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Graves ◽  
Elizabeth J. Makrides ◽  
Victor T. Schmidt ◽  
Anne E. Giblin ◽  
Zoe G. Cardon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Nutrient Enrichment ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Sewage Effluent ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Functional Responses

ABSTRACTEnvironmental nutrient enrichment from human agricultural and waste runoff could cause changes to microbial communities that allow them to capitalize on newly available resources. Currently, the response of microbial communities to nutrient enrichment remains poorly understood, and, while some studies have shown no clear changes in community composition in response to heavy nutrient loading, others targeting specific genes have demonstrated clear impacts. In this study, we compared functional metagenomic profiles from sediment samples taken along two salt marsh creeks, one of which was exposed for more than 40 years to treated sewage effluent at its head. We identified strong and consistent increases in the relative abundance of microbial genes related to each of the biochemical steps in the denitrification pathway at enriched sites. Despite fine-scale local increases in the abundance of denitrification-related genes, the overall community structures based on broadly defined functional groups and taxonomic annotations were similar and varied with other environmental factors, such as salinity, which were common to both creeks. Homology-based taxonomic assignments of nitrous oxide reductase sequences in our data show that increases are spread over a broad taxonomic range, thus limiting detection from taxonomic data alone. Together, these results illustrate a functionally targeted yet taxonomically broad response of microbial communities to anthropogenic nutrient loading, indicating some resolution to the apparently conflicting results of existing studies on the impacts of nutrient loading in sediment communities.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we used environmental metagenomics to assess the response of microbial communities in estuarine sediments to long-term, nutrient-rich sewage effluent exposure. Unlike previous studies, which have mainly characterized communities based on taxonomic data or primer-based amplification of specific target genes, our whole-genome metagenomics approach allowed an unbiased assessment of the abundance of denitrification-related genes across the entire community. We identified strong and consistent increases in the relative abundance of gene sequences related to denitrification pathways across a broad phylogenetic range at sites exposed to long-term nutrient addition. While further work is needed to determine the consequences of these community responses in regulating environmental nutrient cycles, the increased abundance of bacteria harboring denitrification genes suggests that such processes may be locally upregulated. In addition, our results illustrate how whole-genome metagenomics combined with targeted hypothesis testing can reveal fine-scale responses of microbial communities to environmental disturbance.

scholarly journals STRUCTURE OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES OF THE ARTIFICIAL SALT CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE PERM REGION

2020 ◽  
pp. 120-127
Author(s):  
M. V. Kuznetsova ◽  
◽  
М. G. Маммаеvа ◽  
L. V. Кirichenko ◽  
M. A. Shishkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Genus Clostridium ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Viable Bacteria ◽  
Perm Region ◽  
The 16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Number Of Bacteria

The diversity of microbial communities the artificial salt constructions (ASC) located in the medicalpreventive and sanatorium institutions of the Perm region was studied. It was found that the surfaces of the abiotic salt of all ASC were contaminated with microorganisms, and a significant difference was found between the constructions of sylvinite (86.5% of positive samples) and halite (47.4%). The number of viable bacteria, as well as staphylococci, were also higher in sylvinite constructions than in halite ones. Based on bacteriological research and analysis of the 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences, the isolated staphylococcus strains belong to the following species: Staphylococcus epidermidis – 42.3% (n=11), S. aureus and S. saprophyticus – 19.2% (n=5), S. simulans – 7.7% (n=2) and one strain of S. cohnii urealyticum, S. hominis, S. warneri – 3.8%. The species composition of microbiocenoses formed on surfaces determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry included representatives of 18 genera belonging to the three main phylums: Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Actinobacteria (Actinomyces, Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Propionibacterium, Rhodococcus, etc.) were dominant in both groups ASC. Among Firmicutes, representatives of the genus Clostridium predominated in sylvinite ASC – 63.8% of the total number of bacteria, while in halite they were half as many – 32.1%. The content of coccal microbiota, in contrast, in halite constructions was almost 3 times higher than in sylvinite. Identified quantitative and qualitative indicators of the microbiota of the ASC complement the understanding of the constructions of microbial communities under conditions of high salt load and anthropogenic impact.

scholarly journals Vulnerable mothers’ experience of feeding their preterm infant in neonatal care

2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elanie A. Van Schalkwyk ◽  
Berna Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infant ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Neonatal Care ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Worldwide, preterm birth is a rising threat to maternal and child health. The universal challenges of being the mother of a preterm infant, combined with context-specific challenges such as poverty and poor linguistic and cultural representation, bring about risks for both mother and infant. This includes poor maternal mental health; poor mother–infant bonding and attachment and potential suboptimal developmental outcomes for the infant.Objective: This article describes how Afrikaans-speaking mothers living in poverty experienced feeding their preterm infants in neonatal care.Method: The study implemented a cross-sectional, qualitative design. Mothers of preterm infants (chronological ages between 3 and 6 months) were selected through a purposive sampling method and participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Nine interviews were thematically analysed. The participants were a vulnerable group, about whom little research literature was available.Results: Feeding was perceived as a progressive task that worked towards the goal of discharge from the hospital. It was stressful because of various factors, but insufficient breastmilk supply was a significant contributor. The hospital setting was perceived as something that added to the participants’ anxiety surrounding feeding, but at the same time, it had the potential to decrease their anxiety. When the mother–infant dyad was able to breastfeed successfully, it made the participants feel like mothers at last after an extended period of anticipation.Conclusion: Feeding their preterm infant was a prominent experience for the mothers, especially whilst in neonatal care. Increased feeding support is required from the healthcare team providing neonatal care in order to optimally use the neonatal period.

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