Prolonged antibiotic use in preterm neonates has significant consequences on the developing
intestinal microbiome, metabolome and host response, predisposing the neonate to various
major morbidities, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), late-onset sepsis,
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and mortality.
The hypothesis is that early and prolonged antibiotic use in preterm neonates has significant
consequences on the developing intestinal microbiome, metabolome and host response,
predisposing the neonate to various major morbidities. It is possible that the effect of this
widespread antibiotic use outweighs the potential benefits. This study will randomize preterm
infants born at less than 33 weeks gestation to either pre-emptive antibiotics or
no-pre-emptive antibiotics.
The purpose of this research is to evaluate the risks and benefits of current practice to
determine optimal levels of antibiotic use that protects the babies from infection with
minimal effect on the microbiome and subsequent adverse outcomes related to overuse of
antibiotics.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Florida
Collaborators:
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Society for Pediatric Dermatology