Targeted Capture of AMR in Preterm infants after probiotic exposure

Probiotic use in preterm infants has many benefits. This study aimed to assess the benefits of probiotic supplementation in preterm infants on the antibiotic resistance gene profile of their gut microbiomes. Targeted capture and sequencing was used to assess the antimicrobial resistance determinants in preterm infants that were supplemented with a probiotic while in the NICU. The antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiome of these infants were compared with those of preterm infants that did not receive probiotics and infants that were born full term. This sensitive approach to antibiotic resistance gene profiling requires less sequencing than traditional shotgun approaches and provides a deeper understanding of the resistome. The results from this study suggest that probiotics are a useful tool to reduce the prevalence and persistence of multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens, of which preterm infants are invariably exposed to during hospitalization.