Changes in early respiratory tract microecology associated with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

Objective

This study aimed to explore the distribution patterns of the early respiratory tract microbiome in infants with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods

The study involved infants with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome who were admitted to the neonatal department of Kunming Children’s Hospital between July and October 2022. Samples were obtained at two time points: 1 to 3 days post-admission (initial group) and 7 to 10 days post-admission (later group). Pharyngeal swabs and lower respiratory tract sputum samples were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to assess the composition and variations of the early airway microbiome.

Results

The predominant microbiota identified in both pharyngeal and lower respiratory tract sputum samples at 1 to 3 days and 7 to 10 days after birth included Streptococcus, Enterobacter, Halomonas, Acinetobacter, and Serratia, with the first three being the most dominant. The microbial distribution patterns were largely consistent between the initial and later groups in both sample types, exhibiting minimal age-related variation. Although the later group demonstrated higher microbial community richness and lower diversity compared to the initial group, these differences were not statistically significant. Notably, significant differences were observed in the richness index, ACE index, and Chao1 index of the pharyngeal microbiota between the initial and later groups.

Conclusion

The respiratory tract microbial composition in infants with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome remained relatively stable between 1 and 3 days and 7 to 10 days post-birth, although changes in the abundance and diversity of the respiratory tract microbiota were observed with advancing age.