Necrotizing enterocolitis associated with dysbiosis of preterm gut microbiome: A review

Abstract

Preterm birth is defined as any birth before 37 weeks of completed weeks of gestation. Preterm infants are said to have an imbalanced intestinal and immune system. Alteration of the gut microbiota in preterm infants has been associated with the development of short term diseases such as sepsis or Necrotizing enterocolitis. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a catastrophic disease affecting the preterm infants. Although its pathogenesis is poorly known, risk factors like gestational age, birth weight, formula feeding and bacterial colonization of the gut are found to be associated with its emergence. This review was aimed at describing the latest literature related to Necrotizing enterocolitis and its association with dysbiosis of preterm gut microbiome. Moreover several studies have shown the use of fecal samples in detecting the presence of Necrotizing enterocolitis. Microbial dysbiosis preceding Necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants is characterized by increase relative abundances of Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes .Immune responses like Toll-Like Receptors also  trigger  the severity  of Necrotizing enterocolitis. Necrotizing enterocolitis can be reduced through administration of probiotics, thus, reducing the rate of morbidity and mortality of preterm infants.

Keywords: Dysbiosis, Microbiota, Necrotizing enterocolitis, Preterm infant, Probiotics