[Intestinal flora in the neonate: impact on morbidity and therapeutic perspectives].
Studies in recent years have focused on the role that intestinal flora plays in health and disease. At birth, infant gut colonization begins with bacteria which are derived from the mother during delivery. Environmental factors (hospital, hygiene, antibiotics administered to the mother or to the neonate) may contribute to modification of the type of primary colonizing germs. Afterwards, diet represents the most important variable by the end of the first postnatal week. Exclusive breast-feeding promotes growth of Bifidobacteria which have been associated with the healthy nature of stool flora in infants because of their potential role in resisting pathogen colonization. Clinical trials have been made to promote bifidobacteria growth in the feces of bottle-fed infants. In addition, administration of non-pathogenic micro-organisms (probiotics) has been claimed to exert a positive influence on host health or physiology, and is a new approach to the prevention or elimination of infection originating from gut.
Département de pédiatrie, Centre Néonatal, Rocourt-Liège, Belgique.
J P
JP
Langhendries
T
T
Paquay
M
M
Hannon
J
J
Darimont
D001942:Breast Feeding; D004063:Digestion; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*
Acquisition de la flore intestinale néonatale: rôle sur la morbidité et perspectives thérapeutiques.