Microbiota transplantation in restoring cesarean-related infant dysbiosis: a new frontier

• Published in: Gut microbes Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 2351503
• Main Authors: Liu, Sina, Luo, Xiaoxia, Zhou, Lepeng, Xie, Ri-Hua, He, Yan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 2024; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: C-section; Cesarean Section - adverse effects; Dysbiosis - microbiology; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gut microbiota; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Microbiota transplantation; Pregnancy; Review; Vagina - microbiology; Vaginal microbial seeding; Gut microbiota; Microbiota transplantation; Infant; Vaginal microbial seeding; C-section
• ISSN: 1949-0976; 1949-0984; 1949-0984
• DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2351503

C-section is crucial in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality when medically indicated, but one of its side effects could be the disruption of vertical transmission of maternal-infant microbiota during delivery, potentially leading to gut dysbiosis and increased disease risks in C-section infants. To address such dysbiosis, it seems reasonable to supplement "what is missing" during C-section procedure. This idea has prompted several clinical trials, including proof-of-concept, investigating interventions like vaginal microbial seeding, oral administration of maternal vaginal microbes and even oral administration of maternal fecal materials. Hereby, we have summarized these trials to help understand the current state of these researches, highlighting the predominantly pilot nature of most of these studies and emphasizing the need for well-designed studies with larger sample to guide evidence-based medicine in the future.