The skin microbiome of very low birth weight neonates

The objective of the study was to characterize the cutaneous microbiome in very low birth weight neonates (VLBW) and to investigate its possible association with neonatal sepsis (NS). Non-invasive skin microbiome specimens were taken repeatedly on different days in 12 VLBW neonates during treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Samples were also collected from incubators. NS was diagnosed in 5 neonates based on clinical symptoms and positive blood cultures. Cutaneous microbial diversity substantially decreased during the first three weeks of life in both septic and non-septic neonates. After the loss of diversity, one Staphylococcus operational taxo-nomic unit (OTU) dominated the skin microbiome. Recovery of microbial diversity was seen in 5 of 12 neonates. There was no association observed between changes of the cutaneous microbi-ome and NS. The microbiome of incubators showed typical environmental bacterial genera. In conclusion, the diversity of the cutaneous microbiome of VLBW neonates decreases during the first weeks of life during NICU treatment. In our patients, we did not see a correlation between NS and changes in the microbiome. Here, other elements, such as invasive medical devices or concomi-tant infections may play a role.

本研究旨在表征极低出生体重儿（very low birth weight neonates, VLBW）的皮肤微生物组特征，并探究其与新生儿败血症（neonatal sepsis, NS）的潜在关联。研究人员在新生儿重症监护病房（neonatal intensive care unit, NICU）的治疗期间，于不同天数对12名VLBW新生儿反复采集无创皮肤微生物组样本，同时收集了保育箱样本。依据临床症状与血培养阳性结果，其中5名新生儿被确诊为新生儿败血症。无论是否罹患败血症，所有受试新生儿的皮肤微生物多样性均在出生后的前三周显著降低。多样性丧失后，一种葡萄球菌属的操作分类单元（operational taxonomic unit, OTU）成为皮肤微生物组的优势类群。12名新生儿中共有5名实现了微生物多样性的恢复。未观测到皮肤微生物组的变化与新生儿败血症存在显著关联。保育箱的微生物组呈现出典型的环境细菌属类群特征。综上，VLBW新生儿在NICU治疗期间，其皮肤微生物组的多样性在出生后的数周内呈下降趋势。在本研究的受试对象中，未发现新生儿败血症与微生物组变化存在相关性，此类情况下，侵入性医疗装置或合并感染等其他因素或可发挥关键作用。