Conjunctival microbiota of newborns: Current state of the problem and clinical perspectives

Abstract

The species composition of the conjunctival microbiota of newborns and first-year infants informs the selection of an optimal management tactics for the prevention of inflammatory responses. The effectiveness of antimicrobial therapy depends on the availability of susceptibility testing. The most common types of bacteria found in first-year infants include Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. These bacterium types are most sensitive to fluoroquinolones. The bacterial culture of neonates born naturally most frequently contain coagulase-negative staphylococci, Propionibacterium spp, and Corynebacterium spp., while that in neonates born by caesarean section feature coagulasenegative staphylococci, Propionibacterium spp, and Staphylococcus aureus. An examination of infants with neonatal dacryocystitis revealed a high incidence of inflammatory, fungal, and infectious diseases of the genital tract in their mothers. A correlation was established between the bacterial species obtained from conjunctival and cervicovaginal fluid samples. The microflora composition in older infants is characterized by higher complexity compared to that in younger infants. No significant environmental impact is observed in the group of infants under 6 months old. A more complex ocular surface microbiome in childhood is consistent with alterations in the gastrointestinal microbiome. No alterations in the ocular surface microbiome were observed in infants that underwent ophthalmic surgery. The abundance and composition of microflora was found to depend on the geographical location and individual specifics. The conducted research supports the development of a system for monitoring the conjunctival microbiota composition of newborns in obstetric and maternity hospitals.