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Updated: Jul 18, 2025
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: November 17, 2018
Old Folks, Bad Boon: Antimicrobial Resistance in the Infant Gut Microbiome
Silvia Saturio1,2, Alejandra Rey1, Anna Samarra3
1Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain.
Insights
The infant gut microbiome develops at birth, influenced by maternal factors and early-life antibiotic use. Understanding antibiotic resistance gene development is crucial for public health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- The intestinal microbiome development in neonates begins at birth, originating from the mother.
- This early microbiome harbors antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
- Perinatal factors and early-life antibiotic exposure significantly impact both microbiome composition and ARG acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the factors influencing the development of the intestinal resistome in neonates.
- To discuss the impact of early-life antibiotic use on the developing microbiome and ARGs.
- To explore potential interventions to mitigate ARG proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on neonatal microbiome and resistome development.
- Analysis of factors affecting antibiotic resistance gene acquisition in early life.
- Discussion of advancements in sequencing technologies for studying microbiota and resistome.
Main Results:
- Early-life antibiotic exposure disrupts the neonatal microbiome and can increase antibiotic resistance genes.
- Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern, with early life being a critical window.
- Sequencing technologies offer unprecedented insights into the early-life resistome.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the factors driving early-life resistome development is essential for public health.
- Antibiotic use in neonates requires careful consideration due to its impact on microbiome and resistance.
- Further research and interventions are needed to combat the rise of antibiotic resistance.
Abstract:
The development of the intestinal microbiome in the neonate starts, mainly, at birth, when the infant receives its founding microbial inoculum from the mother. This microbiome contains genes conferring resistance to antibiotics since these are found in some of the microorganisms present in the intestine. Similarly to microbiota composition, the possession of antibiotic resistance genes is affected by different perinatal factors. Moreover, antibiotics are the most used drugs in early life, and the use of antibiotics in pediatrics covers a wide variety of possibilities and treatment options. The disruption in the early microbiota caused by antibiotics may be of great relevance, not just because it may limit colonization by beneficial microorganisms and increase that of potential pathogens, but also because it may increase the levels of antibiotic resistance genes. The increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is one of the major public health threats that humanity has to face and, therefore, understanding the factors that determine the development of the resistome in early life is of relevance. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies have enabled the study of the microbiota and the resistome at unprecedent levels. These aspects are discussed in this review as well as some potential interventions aimed at reducing the possession of resistance genes.
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