Study Reveals Probiotics Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance in Preterm Infants

Recent research has demonstrated that administering probiotics to preterm infants significantly decreases the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their gut. This study, published in Nature Communications, involved a trial with 34 preterm babies born with very low birth weight, defined as under 1500 grams. Preterm infants represent about 1-1.5% of all births globally, highlighting the importance of this research.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham, led by experts in the field. It focused on the gut microbiome of these vulnerable infants during the initial three weeks after birth. The findings indicated that preterm babies who received a specific probiotic treatment, including strains such as Bifidobacterium, alongside antibiotics, exhibited a gut microbiome composition more typical of full-term infants. This intervention led to a reduction in both the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and the overall number of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Significantly, the probiotics seemed to lower the presence of drug-resistant pathogens like Enterococcus, which are linked to increased infection risks and extended hospital stays. Additionally, infants receiving probiotics showed elevated levels of beneficial gut bacteria, which are essential for healthy development.

In contrast, the gut analyses of infants who did not receive probiotics revealed a predominant presence of harmful bacteria, or pathobionts, that could lead to serious health issues, including life-threatening infections.

One of the lead researchers emphasized that previous studies have already highlighted the protective effects of probiotics against severe infections in preterm infants. The current study further confirms that these probiotics also play a crucial role in reducing antibiotic resistance in the gut by selectively targeting harmful strains while preserving beneficial ones.

This research is especially relevant in light of the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), indicating that probiotics could be a valuable intervention in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) where preterm infants are particularly susceptible.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended probiotic supplementation for preterm infants, and this study underscores the potential benefits of this approach in promoting neonatal health and combating the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Furthermore, the study revealed that the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium rapidly colonizes the preterm gut, facilitating the maturation of the gut microbiome and contributing to a significant reduction in multidrug-resistant pathogens. These findings also open avenues for future research into the role of probiotics in improving infection control and antimicrobial stewardship in preterm populations.

This research lays the foundation for further studies aimed at understanding the intricate interactions between antibiotics, probiotics, and the development of the gut microbiome in early life.