The Impact of Oral Feedings on the Preterm Infant Microbiome and Metabolome

The purpose of this study is to determine how the route of a preterm infant's feeding impacts their oral and gut microbiome and metabolome. This study analyzed stool, saliva, and milk samples collected from a cohort of preterm infants enrolled in the MAP (Microbiome, Atopic disease, and Prematurity) Study. This study recruited babies <34 weeks gestational age and collected weekly samples throughout their NICU course. A sub cohort of 11 maternal-infant dyads that met criteria for orogastric/nasogastric feeds transitioning to a mix of milk from the bottle and breastfeeding were selected. The microbiome and metabolome of the samples were analyzed from 4 longitudinal sample time points (2 prior to initiating oral feeds and 2 after).