Mycobacterium species on the cutaneous microbiome of very preterm neonates

Abstract

\n The neonatal skin microbiome consists of all the genomes and genetic products of microorganisms harbouring on the skin of babies. Host and the microbiota develop a harmonious environment resulting in symbiosis. Any disruption of this environment could lead to pathological disease. We conducted this study to understand the neonatal skin microbiome of very preterm neonates admitted to NICU at a tertiary health care setting before and after Kangaroo Mother Care. Next Generation sequencing showed relative abundance for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 83.33% & 66.67% (p0.285) and Mycobacteroides abscessus in 100% & 93.33%( p0.303) of the very preterm neonates on the skin microbiome before and after KMC respectively. The mere presence of Mycobcaterium species as commensals or as potential pathogens, is alarming due to the risk of early exposure and incidence of tuberculosis right from birth. These findings, in our view, are the first findings to be established in such a setting.