Observations on the Intestinal Colonization by <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> in Newborn Infants

Abstract

We studied the intestinal flora of 23 newborns, whose meconium had yielded a pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on blood agar medium. Twelve infants had a single serotype of P. aeruginosa in their meconium, 10 had a second serotype and the last infant was carrying three distinct ones. The maximum levels of P. aeruginosa observed during the first week of life were variable among the infants: 1 · 10³ to 1 · 10¹⁰ CFU/g of stools. The levels diminished progressively afterwards, and after 1 year of age only 1 of the 13 infants examined remained a carrier of P. aeruginosa. In 11 infants a second or a third serotype occurred during the course of the study. The serotypes that appeared secondarily always disappeared before the initial ones. Antibiotics: ampicillin + gentamicin or cefotaxime + netilmicin and colistin which were given to 8 infants had no clear effect on P. aeruginosa levels. Four infants had delayed colonization by Escherichia coli of ≧10 days. All 4 had high levels of P. aeruginosa: 1·10⁷ to 1·10¹⁰ CFU/g stool, and antibiotic therapy, rendering it impossible to assess which was the cause of this delay. This colonization by P. aeruginosa did not lead to any clinical trouble.

Human milk microbiota associated with early colonization of the neonatal gut in Mexican newborns

“…6B). It has been already described the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the gut of healthy newborns during the first week of life without any manifestation of disease (Borderon et al, 1990). Although the presence of Pseudomonas spp.…”

Postnatal Changes in Selected Bacterial Groups of the Pig Colonic Microflora

“…ASP-250 is routinely added to swine diets, until a weight of 75 kg, as a prophylactic agent against bacterial enteritis, and because it tends to increase feed efficiency. The results of Borderon et al [7] and others (reviewed by 198 Swords/Wu/Champlin/Buddington Development of Pig Colonic Microflora…”

“…Bacterial diarrhea, a leading cause of mortality and morbidity during early infancy, may be related to infants lacking an established and stable microflora capable of resisting co lonization by pathogenic bacteria. However, studies of postnatal shifts in the composition of the colonic microflora are limited in scope or equivocal because they have either focused on only potential pathogens and contaminants [7][8][9] or have attempted to catalogue all bacterial species present in a limited number of samples, hence ages. The use of inappropriate tech niques for sampling, culturing and identifying fecal flora have also confounded interpreta tions.…”

Infectious Causes of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

“…It forms biofilms and can colonize hard surfaces and respiratory equipment, with mechanical ventilation as a risk factor for infection. However, Pseudomonas also colonizes the GI tracts of 10% to 42% of newborns 120 , 121 and 25% to 35% of normal adults. 122 Among VLBW infants, it is primarily responsible for late-onset disease (sepsis, pneumonia, NEC).…”