*2.5. Sample Collection*

Fecal and skin samples were collected once, during the visit at the time of study enrollment. Sterile, disposable equipment was used throughout the sampling procedure. Freshly evacuated feces in diapers were gathered into collection tubes and frozen for transport to the laboratory. Skin swabs were collected from non-lesional, healthy looking skin on the cheeks; in cases where the cheeks were atopic, sampling was performed from any other healthy skin region excluding the diaper area, usually from the dorsal surface of the forearm. All of the samples were stored at −80 ◦C until further processing.
