Project name: The Neonatal Microbiome and Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Description: The Neonatal Microbiome and Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) study is a multi-centered case control study testing the hypothesis that NEC is a direct or indirect consequence of the enteric biomass, its products, or both. Very low birth weight infants (VLBW; birth weight <= 1500 grams) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are prospectively followed over the first 5 week or until they reach 36 weeks gestation, whichever occurs later. VLBW infants with a lethal clinical condition are excluded. Over the course of the study period, prospective samples are obtained on all infants, and include all stools, and weekly blood samples, palm and oral swabs. Clinical data is collected over the course of the entire hospitalization. Cases are identified based on Bell's staging for NEC, requiring Bell's stage II (abdominal clinical signs and radiographic evidence of pneumatosis, portal venous gas or pneumoperitoneum). Controls are identified from the pool of prospectively... (for more see dbGaP study page.)

Relevance: Medical

Release date: 2010-02-01