Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to describe the oral microbiome findings of newborns with and without exposure to intrapartum antimicrobials and how nurses can interpret and apply microbiome findings through microbiome-centric practice.
Background: The newborn phase is a critical period of development and may serve as the foundation for lifelong health.1 At birth, newborns acquire microorganisms that colonize the body to form the microbiome. The introduction of intrapartum antimicrobials at this stage may affect newborn oral microbiome colonization.2-5
Methods: This secondary data analysis describes the 16s rRNA sequencing data from 19 newborn oral swabs and compares the findings based on exposure to intrapartum antimicrobials. This data was collected during the CLearance of the AIRways study and was used with permission. In this sample, five newborns were not exposed to intrapartum antimicrobials, five were exposed to antibiotics only, and nine were exposed to antibiotics and disinfectants. The most prevalent phylum and family-level bacterial findings are examined.
Discussion: This analysis reveals the presence of a previously unreported bacterial family, Erysipelotrichaceae. Some family-level bacterial abundances in this study support the existing literature while others represent novel findings. Through the evaluation of these bacterial findings, nurses will begin to consider the microbiome as a body system and a microbiome-centric approach to practice will be discussed.
Notes
References:
1. Stinson LF. Establishment of the early-life microbiome: a DOHaD perspective. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2020;11(3):201-210. doi:10.1017/S204017441900058
2. Keski-Nisula L, Kyynäräinen HR, Kärkkäinen U, Karhukorpi J, Heinonen S, Pekkanen J. Maternal intrapartum antibiotics and decreased vertical transmission of Lactobacillus to neonates during birth. Acta Paediatr. 2013;102(5):480-485. doi:10.1111/apa.12186
3. Li H, Xiao B, Zhang Y, Xiao S, Luo J, Huang W. Impact of maternal intrapartum antibiotics on the initial oral microbiome of neonates. Pediatr Neonatol. 2019;60(6):654-661. doi:10.1016/j.pedneo.2019.03.011
4. Li H, Chen S, Wu L, et al. The effects of perineal disinfection on infant's oral microflora after transvaginal examination during delivery. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):213. Published 2019 Jun 24. doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2350-3
5. Gomez-Arango LF, Barrett HL, McIntyre HD, Callaway LK, Morrison M, Nitert MD. Contributions of the maternal oral and gut microbiome to placental microbial colonization in overweight and obese pregnant women. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):2860. Published 2017 Jun 6. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03066-4
6. O'Neal PV, Adams ED. Is the Newborn Microbiome Disrupted by Routine Newborn Suctioning? An Exploratory Approach for Policy Development. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2020;34(3):231-238. doi:10.1097/JPN.0000000000000499
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Omega
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Implementation Science, Newborns, Oral Microbiome
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Jessica M.; Adams, Ellise; Johnson, Paige; Johnston, William; Montgomery, Michele; and O’Neal, Pam, "The Newborn Oral Microbiome, Intrapartum Antimicrobials, and the Microbiome-Centric Nurse" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 173.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/173
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
The Newborn Oral Microbiome, Intrapartum Antimicrobials, and the Microbiome-Centric Nurse
Seattle, Washington, USA
Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to describe the oral microbiome findings of newborns with and without exposure to intrapartum antimicrobials and how nurses can interpret and apply microbiome findings through microbiome-centric practice.
Background: The newborn phase is a critical period of development and may serve as the foundation for lifelong health.1 At birth, newborns acquire microorganisms that colonize the body to form the microbiome. The introduction of intrapartum antimicrobials at this stage may affect newborn oral microbiome colonization.2-5
Methods: This secondary data analysis describes the 16s rRNA sequencing data from 19 newborn oral swabs and compares the findings based on exposure to intrapartum antimicrobials. This data was collected during the CLearance of the AIRways study and was used with permission. In this sample, five newborns were not exposed to intrapartum antimicrobials, five were exposed to antibiotics only, and nine were exposed to antibiotics and disinfectants. The most prevalent phylum and family-level bacterial findings are examined.
Discussion: This analysis reveals the presence of a previously unreported bacterial family, Erysipelotrichaceae. Some family-level bacterial abundances in this study support the existing literature while others represent novel findings. Through the evaluation of these bacterial findings, nurses will begin to consider the microbiome as a body system and a microbiome-centric approach to practice will be discussed.
Description
Newborns are at a critical stage in the development of their microbiome and exposure to intrapartum antimicrobials may alter microbiome development. A secondary data analysis examined the oral microbiome findings of 19 newborns with and without exposure to intrapartum antimicrobials and the phylum and family-level bacteria abundances will be presented. Through these findings, nurses will discuss the microbiome as a body system and how to incorporate a microbiome-centric approach into practice.