Alterations of Intestinal Microbiome by Antibiotic Therapy in Hospitalized Children

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

• Antimicrobial agents disrupt the host-microorganism ecological balance.
• Antibiotic administration causes a rapid and significant reduction in microbial diversity.
• The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in children's health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of antibiotic therapy on the intestinal microbiota of children aged 3-12 years.
• To compare microbial diversity in children receiving antibiotics versus healthy, untreated children.
• To assess quantitative changes in specific bacterial populations post-antibiotic treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fecal samples collected from hospitalized children (n=31) and healthy untreated children (n=30).
• Bacterial presence and quantities assessed using culture-based methods.
• Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) used for precise bacterial enumeration.

Main Results:

• Culture methods showed reduced recovery of Bifidobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp./Parabacteroides spp., Clostridium spp., and Escherichia coli in antibiotic-treated children.
• qPCR revealed a lower copy number for most microorganisms in antibiotic-treated children, except Lactobacillus spp.
• Significant reductions observed in Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Methanobrevibacter smithii, and the Firmicutes phylum.

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic therapy demonstrably affects the intestinal microbiome composition and diversity in children.
• Both qualitative and quantitative analyses confirm the detrimental impact of antibiotics on the pediatric gut microbiota.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of antibiotic-induced microbiome alterations in children.