WIP 72 - Characterizing the Intestinal Microbiome of Premature Infants with Growth Failure

Poster Number: WIP 72
Publication Number: WIP 72.2411

Background: Appropriate growth during Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) admission is associated with improved short and long-term morbidity and mortality. Despite the adoption of proactive nutritional care, a majority of premature infants demonstrate growth failure. The gut microbiome has been shown to play a role in nutritional uptake in animal and human models, but little is known about its role in growth outcomes in premature infants. Characterization of the intestinal microbiome may be used as a biomarker of future growth failure in preterm neonates.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to characterize differences in the gut microbiome of neonates born at < 32 weeks gestation who are diagnosed with growth failure at the time of hospital discharge compared to those who have appropriate growth at the time of discharge.

Design/Methods: This is a single-center case-control study, where preterm infants with growth failure at discharge serve as our case group. We define growth failure as a z-score decline from birth of ≥ 1. Collection of stool samples from infants occurs at 3 time points: Birth, week 2, and week 4 of life. The planned total enrollment is 40 case-control matched patients. Exclusion criteria include necrotizing enterocolitis, intestinal perforation, or major congenital anomalies. Demographic and clinical data related to microbial diversity or postnatal growth will be collected, this will be summarized by standard descriptive statistics. Microbial community profiling of all samples will be performed using 16S rRNA operon, and analysis and visualization of taxonomic, alpha, and beta diversity will be performed.
Currently, 43 patients are enrolled in the study, 20 of which are matched. Completion of stool sample collection and matching for an additional 20 patients is planned for December 2023. Stool preparation and data analysis will occur over an 8-week period. Study completion is planned for March 2024. IRB approval for this study, including a waiver of consent, was obtained in April 2023.