Antibiotics and microbiota

Antibiotics are lifesaving in many cases. But for microbiota development antibiotics are a big threat. The transmission of microbiota from mother to infant provides the child with beneficial microbes. If the mother of the child has antibiotic treatment upon birth or right after, this will have devastating effect on the infant microbiome development. Because of this the child can have long lasting shifts in microbiota composition and metabolism, including the depletion of Bifidobacteria. Antibiotics are routinely administered during c-section, and this has a role in the delayed Bifidobacteria colonization. Bifidobacteria has been shown to be transmitted vertically from mother in case of normal birth. We have several long term effects if antibiotics treatment were prescribed early in life, such us the decrease in Bifidobacteria, increase in Firmicutes and Clostridial groups of bacteria, associated with the development and onset of allergic diseases. Perinatal antibiotic exposure and infant antibiotic use are also increasing the risk of allergies.

Antibiotic induced disturbances of the microbial balance early in life can play a role in being overweight and obesity later in life (association between early life antibiotic exposure and childhood obesity has been observed in large cohort studies and is a certainty). Antibiotic usage in early life should be taken very seriously and consciously. The described association between microbiota, antibiotics and later life risks requires further investigation.

Next: Ageing and basic changes in microbiota.

See you soon!
G.