Intestinal metabolomics in premature infants with late-onset sepsis

We aimed to investigate the characteristics of intestinal metabolomics and non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of late-onset sepsis (LOS) by analyzing gut metabolites in preterm infants with LOS. We collected stool samples from septic and healthy preterm infants for analysis by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. 123 different metabolites were identified and 13 pathways were mainly involved. Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; glyoxylate and dicarboxylic acid metabolism; glutathione metabolism; primary bile acid biosynthesis; steroid synthesis; pentose and glucuronic acid interconversion may be involved in the pathogenesis of LOS in preterm infants. The significant changes of N-Methyldopamine, cellulose, glycine, gamma-Glutamyltryptophan, N-Ribosylnicotinamide and 1alpha, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol showed specific diagnostic values and as non-invasive biomarkers for LOS.