Dataset of establishment of gut microbiota: Molecular analysis of a cohort of 29 preterm Moroccan newborns.

The initial colonization of the intestine represents one of the most profound immunological exposures faced by the newborn. During the first three years of life, the intestinal microbial composition undergoes significant changes. At birth, the digestive tract is rapidly colonized by microorganisms of maternal and environmental origins. Microbiota's composition is influenced by various factors, including the mode of delivery, gestational age, type of feeding, and medication use. Through the current study, we specifically focused on elucidating the dynamics of gut microbiota colonization within the first three weeks of life of infants, shedding light on this critical phase of development. A prospective cohort study involving 29 preterm infants was conducted from January to September 2021 at the National Reference Center for Neonatology and Nutrition, in collaboration with the research laboratory of Children's Hospital at the University Hospital Center Ibn Sina in Rabat. Stool samples were collected from each infant's diapers into a sterile tube and send for laboratory analysis. A total of 203 stool samples were collected. For each newborn, one stool sample was obtained within the first 48 h after birth, followed by two samples per week over a period of three weeks. The microbial compositions of these samples were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction.