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Development of the faecal anaerobic microflora after Caesarean section and treatment with antibiotics in newborn infants

Entwicklung der anaeroben Stuhlflora bei Neugeborenen nach Kaiserschnitt und Antibiotikatherapie

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Summary

Qualitative and quantitative anaerobic cultures were performed on faecal samples from 27 normal full-term newborn infants; from 32 preterm infants during intensive or intermediate care, not treated with antibiotics; and from 106 mostly preterm newborns, treated with antibiotics for various reasons. There were no major differences between the children in the first two groups. In these, Caesarean section led to a lower isolation rate of bifidobacteria and a much lower incidence ofBacteroides spp. During antibiotic treatment anaerobic bacteria were isolated from only 10% of the infants. After treatment, there was a slow regrowth of bifidobacteria, butBacteroides spp. were not usually re-established. There was a colonisation of infants delivered by Caesarean section with newLactobacillus spp. after treatment. In particularBacteroides colonisation may be facilitated and more stable if it occurs during passage through the birth canal.

Zusammenfassung

Von 27 reifen Neugeborenen, 32 Frühgeborenen in Intensivtherapie oder klinischer Behandlung ohne Antibiotikatherapie sowie von 106 vorwiegend Frühgeborenen, die aus verschiedenen Gründen mit Antibiotika behandelt werden mußten, wurden qualitative und quantitative Kulturen von Stuhlproben angefertigt. Die Kinder der ersten beiden Gruppen wiesen keine wesentlichen Unterschiede auf. Bei Kaiserschnitt-Kindern war die Isolationsrate an Bifidobakterien geringer und die Isolationsrate anBacteroides spp. erheblich geringer als bei Kindern, die vaginal entbunden wurden. Während der Antibiotikatherapie wurden von nur 10% der Kinder anaerobe Bakterien isoliert. Nach der Antibiotikatherapie holten die Bifidobakterien langsam an Wachstum auf, doch siedelten sich meist keineBacteroides spp. an. Kinder, die durch Kaiserschnitt entbunden worden waren, wiesen nach der Antibiotikatherapie eine Besiedelung durch neueLactobacillus spp. auf. Die Kolonisation mitBacteroides spp. scheint bei Passage durch den Geburtskanal leichter und stabiler zu erfolgen als bei Kaiserschnitt-Entbindung.

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Bennel, R., Nord, C.E. Development of the faecal anaerobic microflora after Caesarean section and treatment with antibiotics in newborn infants. Infection 15, 332–336 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01647733

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