MICROBIOTA

microbiotakapak

THE PRETERM INFANT MICROBIOME: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Nazmiye Bengü Karaçağlar

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Department of Neonatology, Ankara, Türkiye

Karaçağlar NB. The Preterm Infant Microbiome: Challenges And Opportunities. Melek İM, Aydoğan S, eds. Microbiota. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.79-88.

ABSTRACT

Preterm birth is an important risk factor for neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in maternal, antenatal, and postnatal care, preterm birth can still lead to unfavorable outcomes. The risk of death and disease in these infants is primarily due to the anatomic and functional immaturity of their organ systems. The gut microbiota is one of the main factors modulating the development and function of the immune system, which is an important component of the organ systems. The gut microbiota that forms in the first years of life has important impacts on growth, development, and long-term health. Recent studies have focused on alterations in the gut microbiota in preterm infants as one of the causes of prematurity-related complications and poor neurological outcomes. While preterm birth itself has an effect on the gut microbiota, many other individual and environmental factors can alter the microbiota profile of preterm infants. Knowing the microbiota characteristics and factors that cause dysbiosis in this patient group is important in order to regulate negative modifiable factors or intervene quickly to reverse their negative effects. Therefore, this chapter discusses possible determinants of microbiota development in preterm infants and their differences from term infants, the effects of antenatal/natal/ postnatal factors on the microbiota, and suggestions to regulate and support the microbiota and reverse dysbiosis.

Keywords: Preterm infant; Gut microbiota; Dysbiosis; Probiotic

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