Gut microbiome in newborn

Czech version

Authors: Bára Zapletalová ¹; Tomáš Matějek ¹; Radka Bolehovská ²
Authors‘ workplace: Dětská klinika, Fakultní nemocnice Hradec, Králové, Lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, v Hradci Králové ¹; Ústav klinické mikrobiologie, Fakultní nemocnice, Lékařská fakulta, Univerzita, Karlova v Hradci Králové ²
Published in: Čes-slov Pediat 2025; 80 (2): 87-96.
Category:
doi: https://doi.org/10.55095/CSPediatrie2024/064

Overview

Gut microbiome is regarded as an invisible organ influencing the human organism throughout the entire lifespan. Microbiome determines various physiological processes including immune system maturation, metabolic programming and furthermore, facilitates connections even between relatively distant organs (e.g. gut-brain axis). Its development begins shortly after birth and is modified by various aspects. We can categorize them into modifiable (antibiotic treatment, diet) and non-modifiable factors (gestational age, delivery mode). Intestinal alteration caused by these influencing factors might contribute to short-term and long-term morbidity. Our objective is to comprehend the microbiome development itself and its modifying factors. Understanding the microbiome complexity could help us make such medical decisions to outweigh negative sequelae of an early gut alteration. This review presents topics concerning microbiome origin and its development along with potential clinical aspects in term and preterm newborn. We also include recommendations for parents and health care professionals regarding possible attitudes, based on current scientific knowledge, to diminish early gut microbiome alterations.

Keywords:

Microbiome – breastfeeding – cesarean section – newborn – antibiotics – prematurity – gut microbiome

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