title: Skin-to-Skin Care and the Development of the Preterm Infant Oral Microbiome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The oral cavity represents an initial entry way for oral and gut indigenous colonization. Skin-to-skin (STS) care, in which the mother holds the diaper clad naked preterm (PT) infant between her breasts, is associated with improved digestive function, decreased stress, and improved survival. This study evaluated the development of oral microbial colonization repertoires and health characteristics in PT infants with or without STS exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva from 42 PT infants (<32 weeks of gestation at birth) was collected prospectively at 1 month and/or at discharge. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing identified microbial diversity and prevalence of bacterial signatures correlated with clinical STS or non-STS care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Corrected for gestational age (CGA) at sampling, bacterial taxa demonstrated increased Streptococcus as a signature of oral repertoire maturation. STS was associated with increased Streptococcus (p < 0.024), while non-STS was associated with greater Corynebacterium (p < 0.023) and Pseudomonas (p < 0.019) in infants ≤ 32 weeks CGA. In infants > 32 weeks CGA, Neisseria and Acinetobacter were more prevalent, 50 vs. 16.7% and 40 vs. 0%, respectively. STS care was associated with shorter hospitalization (p < 0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STS care during earlier gestation was associated with a distinct microbial pattern and an accelerated pace of oral microbial repertoire maturity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Karen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hendricks-Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Hardik I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fettweis
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Moi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Louie
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.affiliation: Departments of Family and Community Health Nursing and Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Leroy R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Thacker
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Nihar U
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Sheth
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D060127:Kangaroo-Mother Care Method / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics*; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009343:Neisseria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D020588:Stenotrophomonas / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S