The Importance of Early Bacteria for Newborns’ Health
Recent research from UK scientists suggests that the first bacteria newborns encounter just hours after birth might help shield them from serious infections. This groundbreaking study indicates that beneficial bacteria can significantly reduce the risk of young children requiring hospitalization due to lung infections.
The findings have been described as “phenomenal” and raise the possibility of developing therapies aimed at enhancing beneficial bacteria in infants. It is believed that the initial microbial exposure plays a crucial role in shaping our immune system.
Babies are born sterile, but it doesn’t take long for diverse microbial life—collectively known as the microbiome—to colonize our bodies. Researchers from University College London and the Sanger Institute focused on the early stages of bacterial and fungal colonization. They collected stool samples from over 1,000 newborns during their first week and conducted extensive genetic analysis to identify which species were present in each child.
Afterward, they monitored these babies using hospital data for the next two years.
One specific bacterium, Bifidobacterium longum, appeared to have a protective role. The study revealed that just 4% of infants with this bacterium were hospitalized for respiratory infections, whereas those with different bacteria had two to three times the likelihood of needing hospital care. This serves as the first concrete evidence that early microbiome development can influence infection risk.
Professor Nigel Field from UCL expressed excitement about these findings, stating, “I think it’s really phenomenal. It’s amazing to be able to show this.”
Understanding the Mechanism
The primary cause for pediatric hospitalizations is often respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). But how does B. longum play into this? That’s the pressing question, according to Prof Field.
What is known is that B. longum initiates the digestion of breast milk, providing nutrition for the infant while promoting beneficial bacteria. The specifics remain unclear, but Prof Field suggests that the bacterium or its byproducts may interact with the immune system, affecting its development and helping it differentiate between harmful and harmless entities.
This beneficial bacterium was primarily found in babies delivered vaginally, not via cesarean, and even then, not in every case of vaginal birth. The researchers caution against the practice of vaginal seeding, where some parents smear infants with vaginal swabs, suggesting it doesn’t hold merit.
Some believe these good bacteria originate from the mother’s digestive tract, leading to the notion of the “first lick.” Prof Field voiced his concerns, saying, “I feel pretty confident in saying that vaginal seeding is not a good thing.” Meanwhile, the long-term goal is to explore microbial therapies, possibly in the form of probiotics, to guide infants’ microbiome development in a positive direction.
Prof Louise Kenny, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, noted that while benefits were observed in vaginally born babies, this was not universal. She emphasized the necessity for further research to obtain a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics, especially since cesarean sections are often vital for the health of both mothers and babies.
