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Intestinal microbiota composition after antibiotic treatment in early life: the INCA study

N B M M Rutten1, G T Rijkers2, C B Meijssen3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, St Antonius Hospital, PO Box 2500, 3430 EM, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. n.rutten@antoniusziekenhuis.nl.

BMC Pediatrics
|December 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Early antibiotic exposure in infants can alter gut microbiota and potentially impact immune system development. This study observed both clinical and microbial changes in infants treated with antibiotics, highlighting the need for further research into microbiome restoration strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Infant gut microbiota acquisition is influenced by factors like early antibiotic use.
  • Limited research exists on the clinical and microbial effects of early-life antibiotics in term infants.
  • Disturbed infant gut microbiota is linked to aberrant immune system development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical and microbial consequences of empiric antibiotic use in early life.
  • To analyze the impact of early antibiotic exposure on infant health outcomes and gut microbiome composition.

Main Methods:

  • Observational cohort study with 450 term infants (150 exposed to antibiotics, 300 controls) over one year.
  • Daily recording of clinical outcomes by parents and doctor's examination.
  • 16S-23S rRNA gene analysis (IS-pro) of fecal samples at eight time points for microbial profiling.
  • Assessment of vaccination response and allergen sensitization via blood samples.

Main Results:

  • Early antibiotic treatment in infants demonstrated both clinical and qualitative microbial effects.
  • Differences in microbial profiles were observed between antibiotic-exposed infants and controls.
  • The study provides data on the impact of antibiotics on infant gut microbiome diversity and composition.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life antibiotic exposure has demonstrable clinical and microbial consequences in infants.
  • Findings support the potential for pre- or probiotics to restore gut microbiota balance.
  • Interventions may mitigate negative effects on the developing immune system when antibiotics are unavoidable.
Abstract

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