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Antibiotics at birth and later antibiotic courses: effects on gut microbiota

Sofia Ainonen1, Mysore V Tejesvi2, Md Rayhan Mahmud2

  • 1PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Centre Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. sofia.ainonen@student.oulu.fi.

Pediatric Research
|April 7, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Perinatal antibiotic exposure significantly impacts infant gut microbiota composition at one year of age. This effect is more pronounced than later antibiotic courses, highlighting the critical role of antibiotic timing.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is common, but long-term effects on infant gut microbiota are not well understood.
  • Limited evidence exists on the lasting impact of perinatal antibiotic exposure on children's gut health.
  • This study investigates the long-term consequences of various antibiotic exposures on infant gut microbiota.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the impact of perinatal antibiotic exposure versus later antibiotic courses on infant gut microbiota composition at one year of age.
  • To assess the long-term effects of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) and postnatal antibiotics on the developing gut microbiome.
  • To determine if the timing of antibiotic exposure influences gut microbiota alterations.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, controlled cohort study of 100 vaginally delivered infants.
  • Categorization of infants based on perinatal antibiotic exposure: control, IAP, postnatal antibiotics, and combined IAP and postnatal antibiotics.
  • Next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene in fecal samples collected at one year of age.

Main Results:

  • Perinatal antibiotic exposure significantly altered infant gut microbiota composition at one year.
  • Control group showed higher Bacteroidetes phylum abundance and lower Escherichia coli relative abundance.
  • The impact of perinatal antibiotics on microbiota was more substantial than that of later antibiotic courses.

Conclusions:

  • Perinatal antibiotic exposure has a marked, lasting impact on infant gut microbiota at one year of age.
  • The timing of antibiotic administration is a critical factor influencing observed changes in the gut microbiome.
  • Findings underscore the importance of considering long-term microbial consequences of early-life antibiotic use.
Abstract

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