Microbiome, Antibiotics, and Growth Infant Cohort
Microbiome, Antibiotics, and Growth Infant Cohort
This cross-disciplinary study will assemble and longitudinally follow a large, diverse birth
 cohort to determine the relationships between early life antibiotic exposure, microbiome
 development, growth, antibodies, and immunostimulation.
Perinatal and infant antibiotic exposures are common and have been linked to changes in the
 gut microbiome, which plays a central role in health and disease. Childhood obesity is an
 epidemic and animal models have linked antibiotic induced changes in the microbiome with
 increased adiposity. Infants become colonized with trillions of bacteria in the first few
 hours of life. During this time period, their nascent immune system develops tolerance to
 commensal microbes

 The primary objectives are to measure the impact of common perinatal and early childhood
 antibiotic exposures on the structure and function of the developing gut microbiome. To
 determine the association between common perinatal and early childhood antibiotic exposures
 and weight/adiposity gain in a large birth cohort of children. To determine mechanisms for
 the association between microbiome changes over time and the rate of weight/adiposity gain in
 a large birth cohort of children. To determine the normal developmental pattern by which
 healthy children develop antibodies in their blood against the microbes that naturally
 colonize their intestines. To determine the association between immunostimulation and
 protection from persistent colonization in humans.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Born at Pennsylvania Hospital

 -  Recruited at < 120 hours of age

 -  Born at 36 0/7 weeks gestation

 -  Birth weight ≥ 2000 grams

 -  Parents plan to receive well-child care in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
 (CHOP) network, Society Hill Pediatrics, Center City Pediatrics, Penn Medicine or
 South Philly Pediatrics

 -  Biological mother is the legal guardian, or the child is born from a surrogacy with
 guardianship immediately transferred in hospital

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Child in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for ≥ 120 cumulative hours

 -  Biological mother NOT legal guardian

 -  Biological mother NOT primary caretaker

 -  Biological mother < 18 years of age

 -  Child has culture confirmed-infection

 -  Biological mother is non-English speaking