The effect of probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota of preterm infants

Abstract

Introduction. Probiotic supplementation of preterm infants may prevent serious morbidities associated with prematurity. Aim. To investigate the impact of probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota and determine factors associated with detection of probiotic species in the infant gut. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Probiotic supplementation increases the long-term colonization of probiotic species in the gut of preterm infants. Methodology. Longitudinal stool samples were collected from a cohort of very preterm infants participating in a blinded randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of probiotic supplementation (containing Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis BB-02, Bifidobac..