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  11. Impacts Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Early Life Gut Microbiome

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on early life gut microbiome

Lin Zhang1,2, Wenye Xu1,2, Henry Y H Meng3

  • 1Microbiota I-Center (MagIC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Gut Microbes
|December 18, 2025

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View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

COVID-19 lockdowns altered infant gut microbiome development due to increased hygiene. This study observed changes in microbial diversity and antibiotic resistance genes in babies born during the pandemic.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Pediatric health
  • Infectious disease epidemiology
Keywords:
COVID-19early lifeenvironment and public healthgut microbiome

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Background:

  • Increased hygiene and sanitation are linked to atopic diseases, potentially via the gut microbiome.
  • The first year of life is critical for microbiome development influenced by environmental exposures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on early gut microbiome maturation in infants.
  • To assess how heightened hygiene standards during the pandemic affected infant gut microbiome development.

Main Methods:

  • Comparison of two large mother-baby cohorts (pre- and during-COVID-19) in China's Greater Bay Area.
  • Analysis of gut microbiome diversity, composition, and functional gene content (resistance genes).

Main Results:

  • Significant alterations in gut microbiome diversity, composition, and developmental trajectory were observed in infants during COVID-19.
  • Decreased richness of antimicrobial peptide and antibiotic resistance genes was noted in the during-COVID cohort.
  • Specific bacterial species showed altered antibiotic resistance gene profiles: *Staphylococcus epidermidis* had fewer resistance genes, while *Klebsiella pneumoniae* had more fluoroquinolone resistance genes.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 hygiene measures significantly impacted early-life gut microbiome maturation.
  • Findings highlight the need to consider microbiome alterations when evaluating hygiene interventions.
  • Further research is required to understand the gut microbiome's role in disease development following pandemic-related hygiene changes.
hygiene hypothesis
pandemics