ARS | Publication request: CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE PREVALENCE IN THE NEONATAL PIG GUT IS INCREASED BY PARENTERAL FEEDING VERSUS ENTERAL FEEDING

Submitted to: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: March 25, 2003
Publication Date: May 14, 2003
Citation: Harvey, R.B., Andrews, K., Droleskey, R.E., Kansagra, K.V., Stoll, B., Burrin, D.G., Genovese, K.J., Edrington, T.S., Anderson, R.C., Nisbet, D.J. 2003. Clostridium difficile prevalence in the neonatal pig gut is increased by parenteral feeding versus enteral feeding. Proceedings of 9th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs. II:111-113.

Interpretive Summary: Preterm human infants and baby pigs can be infected by the bacteria Clostridium difficile. In this study we used a pig model to try to determine what factors affect the ability of C. difficile to colonize neonates. We found that intravenous feeding of neonates increases the risk of infection by C. difficile, whereas the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut reduces the risk. On the basis of this work, new methods of treating human infants and newborn pigs can be developed that may decrease the risk of infection by C. difficile.

Technical Abstract: In this study, we compared bacterial colonization and the translocation of gut bacteria in neonatal pigs that were subjected to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) versus enteral (ENT) feeding. The ENT group had greater diversity of bacterial species, more segments of the GI tract colonized, and greater concentrations of gut bacteria than the TPN group. The TPN group had increased (P < 0.1) Clostridium difficile toxin-A positive samples compared to the ENT group. These data suggest that ENT treatment may enhance gut colonization in neonates whereas TPN treatment may place neonates at a higher risk for colonization by C. difficile.