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Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
08:33

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment

Published on: November 17, 2018

Changes in the Gut Microbiome Following Perioperative Prophylactic Cefazolin Administration in Patients Undergoing

Dokyun Kim1, Woo-Suk Lee2, Kyoung Hwa Lee3

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06273, Republic of Korea.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Prophylactic cefazolin administration significantly reduced gut microbiome diversity and beneficial bacteria within days, increasing antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Some recovery was noted after one month, but the impact of single-class antibiotics on the gut microbiome warrants further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cefazolin, a first-generation cephalosporin, has a moderate antimicrobial spectrum.
  • It is known to induce beta-lactamase production in bacteria.
  • The impact of prophylactic cefazolin on the gut microbiome in orthopedic surgery patients was previously unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of prophylactic cefazolin administration on the gut microbiome.
  • To assess changes in taxonomic composition and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs).

Main Methods:

  • 42 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery were included.
  • Fecal samples were collected pre-administration, within 3 days post-administration, and 1 month post-surgery.
  • Shotgun whole-metagenome sequencing was used to analyze microbiome composition and ARGs.

Main Results:

  • Cefazolin significantly decreased gut microbiome diversity and the Gut Microbiome Health Index within 3 days.
  • A reduction in beneficial taxa (Ruminococcus, Fusicatenibacter) and an increase in Enterobacterales were observed.
  • Relative abundance of ARGs for fluoroquinolones and beta-lactams (penicillin, cephalosporin, carbapenem, monobactam) significantly increased.

Conclusions:

  • Perioperative cefazolin administration can decrease gut microbiome diversity and alter its composition unfavorably.
  • This administration may lead to an increase in antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs).
  • Changes partially reverted after one month, suggesting potential for recovery but highlighting antibiotic impact.
Keywords:
cefazolinmicrobiomeprophylacticresistome

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