STUDY OF INTESTINAL COLONISATION PATTERN IN VLBW INFANTS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LIFE
Swarupa Panda, Arakhita Swain* and Dr. Saiprasanna Behera
ABSTRACT
Background: Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants have different colonization pattern in comparison to the healthy, breast-fed, term infants. There is a paucity of reports n intestinal colonization pattern of VLBW preterm infants. This study was conducted to establish the understanding of any aberrant colonization pattern in VLBW infants. Aim: To study intestinal colonization patterns in VLBW infants in the first week of life, admitted to SNCU. Participants: All newborn newborns with birth weight less than 1500 grams admitted to SNCU of SLN MCH, Koraput within 8 hrs of birth. Setting: SNCU of a tertiary care hospital of Eastern India. Method: Meconium specimens / Rectal Swab were obtained on days 1, 3, 5, 7 from 76 VLBW infants admitted in SNCU of a tertiary care hospital. Results: On day 1, 45% had sterile guts, and by day 3 all infants were colonized. E.Coli, Klebsiella pneumonae and Enteroceos fecalis were prominent organisms encountered. Lactobacilli was found in 2 cases and Bifidobactenium was not detected during the study period. E.Coli colonization has an association with formula feeding. Conclusion: VLBW infants admitted in SNCU had abnormal / different colonization pattern.
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