الفهرس 
PREMATURITYOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 151 |  |  |
| | | from | 151 | | |
Abstract
he colonisation of the human gut by micro-organisms starts around birth, during birth and immediately afterwards.
Bacteria from the mother and the surrounding environment colonise the infants gut. However it has been suggested recently that the colonisation process or exposure to microbial compounds may start before birth and that infants may also receive microorganisms from the mother during gestation.
An increase in the number of beneficial bacteria will provide antimcrobial effects by direct competition with pathogenic bacteria for available binding sites on intestinal epithelium and for nutrients Bifidobacterium species and Lactobacillus species are also able to produce antibacterial substances that can inhibit the growth and survival of pathogens.also gut microbiome enhancing the immunity by another mechanisms.
Preterm infants are prone to delayed colonization with reduced microbial diversity and the acquisition of antibiotic-resistant strains due to an immature immune system and frequent use of antibiotics.
The gut flora of preterms neonate may be altered by the supplementation of formula with prebiotics.
Prebiotics are nondigestible food compounds that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of desirable bacteria in the colon such as bifidobacteria & lactobacilli and thereby improving host health.
The present study was conducted aiming to evaluate the effect of prebiotics on intestinal microbiota of preterm neonates by measuring colony count of bifidobacteria & lactobacilli in stool culture.
Our study carried on hospitalized fifty preterm neonates < 34 weeks, delivered with ceserean section, birth weight > 1000 gram and on antibiotics.
All preterm neonates included in our study commencement of enteral feeding within 0-3 days of birth intake with plain fourmula (not supplemented with pre or probiotics). Lethal congenital abnormalities and absent parental /carer consent are excluded.
The study group was divided into two groups:
• Group I: Included 20 preterm neonates supplemented with prebiotic ( 2ml solution contain 2mg inulin given once daily with every morning feed).
• Group II: Included 30 preterm neonates not receiving prebiotic.
All neonates were subjected to full history taking, physical examination, Complete blood count (CBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Stool culture for isolation and enumeration of colony count of Lactobacilli Spp and Bifidobacterum Spp. on admission and regularly at the 7th, 30ty and 42nd days of supplemention.
Regarding the demographic criteria of the two groups, our study showed no significant difference, as regards sex, GA, birth weigh, days of starting feeding and total hospital stay.
Our study showed that no significant difference was detected between the two groups as regards the growth rate and other anthropometric measures.
but there’s a significant statistical difference between two groups as regard feeding tolerance.
As regard the general investigations (HB, TLC, PLT & CRP) there’s no significant difference was detected between the two groups.
The stool colony count of bifidobacteria and lactobacillus showing no colonization before 30 day of life in both groups, but there was a significant increase in group I (supplemented group) compared to group II (not supplemented group) in number of colony count, with earlier colonization.