Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41984912›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2026

The Gut Bacterial Resistome in the First Two Years of Life: Protocol for a Longitudinal Observational Birth Cohort Study.

Justine Fri, Idris Njanje, Tjale Cloupas Mahopo, Lufuno Grace Mavhandu-Ramarumo, Pascal Obong Bessong, Microbiome and Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Justine Fri *SAMRC-UNIVEN Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Research Unit, Institute for Pathogen and Global Health Research, University of Venda, University Road, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa, 27 15 962 8301.ORCID 0000-0003-0338-5121
Idris Njanje *SAMRC-UNIVEN Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Research Unit, Institute for Pathogen and Global Health Research, University of Venda, University Road, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa, 27 15 962 8301.ORCID 0000-0002-8754-4566
Tjale Cloupas MahopoSAMRC-UNIVEN Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Research Unit, Institute for Pathogen and Global Health Research, University of Venda, University Road, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa, 27 15 962 8301.ORCID 0000-0003-0186-1438
Lufuno Grace Mavhandu-RamarumoSAMRC-UNIVEN Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Research Unit, Institute for Pathogen and Global Health Research, University of Venda, University Road, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa, 27 15 962 8301.ORCID 0009-0002-5778-8559
Pascal Obong BessongSAMRC-UNIVEN Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Research Unit, Institute for Pathogen and Global Health Research, University of Venda, University Road, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa, 27 15 962 8301.ORCID 0000-0003-0561-272X
Microbiome and Antimicrobial Resistance CollaboratorsSee Acknowledgments.

Funding

South African Medical Research Council RCHDI241107279719
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat that increases the burden of infectious diseases and disproportionately affects communities of low socioeconomic status. Despite the call for community-level AMR data, prospective studies from rural sub-Saharan African communities to inform appropriate targeted interventions remain scarce. Given the role of enteric bacteria in AMR transmission dynamics, there is a need to understand the timing, risk factors, and ecological drivers of gut resistome acquisition and development during infancy. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the temporal dynamics of enteric bacterial resistomes during the first 2 years of life and to identify drivers of AMR acquisition and development in a community-based, prospective, observational birth cohort study in a rural South African community. Methods: The study aims to enroll 200 newborns and their mothers within 17 days post partum. Data on key exposures and variables include sociodemographics; perinatal and anthropometrics; feeding practices and dietary exposures; illness, medication, and vaccination history; breast milk metabolomic profiles; household socioeconomic status; maternal psychosocial and behavioral factors; hygiene and sanitation practices; and environmental exposures including hydro-meteorological variables, in-house livestock and pets, and drinking water quality. Biological samples include stools from monthly collections and diarrhea episodes for metagenomic analysis and breast milk for metabolomics. Planned analyses include assessing the infant microbiome and resistome structure (diversity, abundance, and composition) across time points and modeling associations between risk factors and AMR outcomes. Additionally, a cross-sectional community survey on knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antimicrobial use is conducted to inform knowledge translation through responsive dialogues, thereby developing ethnographically relevant packages for community-level AMR stewardship. Results: Participant identification and enrollment began in August 2023. By October 2025, 167 newborns had been enrolled, with 20 having completed the 24-month follow-up. The characteristics of the enrolled participants are presented in this protocol. Conclusions: This study will offer a unique opportunity to generate longitudinal resistome data from a rural sub-Saharan African setting. The study is expected to contribute knowledge on the microbiome and resistome structure dynamics and trajectories associated with key risk factors of acquisition and development. In addition, co-produced ethnographically tailored educational packages, informed by knowledge, attitudes, and practices and bacterial resistome data, will drive sustainable community-centered AMR awareness interventions.

Indexed as

Drug Resistance, BacterialGastrointestinal MicrobiomeBirth CohortFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornLongitudinal StudiesMaleObservational Studies as TopicProspective StudiesRisk FactorsSouth Africaantimicrobial resistancebacterial gut resistomecommunity AMR stewardshipEscherichia coliESKAPE pathogenslongitudinal birth cohort

Identifiers

PMID41984912
PMCPMC13082449

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.