Streptococcus salivarius Probiotics to Prevent Acute Otitis Media in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Beneficial changes in gut microbiota after phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Phototherapy is the most commonly used treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NH). Gut microbiota is involved in bilirubin metabolism; however, it is uncertain whether this is affected by phototherapy. The present study included 43 newborns with hyperbilirubinemia and collected fecal samples for high-throughput sequencing before and after phototherapy. Selection α diversity analysis was used to determine the differences in diversity and abundance between the two groups, whereas similarity was determined using β diversity analysis. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis was used to screen for markedly different bacteria. The structure of the gut microbiota in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia changed after phototherapy, with a significant decrease in abundance and diversity. The changes in the key bacterial species were characterized by an increase in the abundance of Streptococcus salivarius and a decrease in the abundance of Escherichia, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Rothia mucilaginosa and Streptococcus oralis. These changes mainly manifested as an increase in beneficial bacteria and a decrease in opportunistic bacteria, which may not be related to the side effects of phototherapy. These results can provide theoretical assistance for microbiological research on the later stages of NH.