Antibiotics and Gut Microbiota Impact

Antibiotics administered to premature infants can have a major impact on the development of their gut microbiota.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics, often used prophylactically in premature infants, disrupt the diverse range of bacteria in the gut, leading to reduced diversity.

The changes in gut microbial composition caused by antibiotics can persist for weeks after treatment ends, sometimes leading to incomplete restoration of the original bacterial balance.

Antibiotics like ciprofloxacin rapidly reduce the diversity and richness of the gut microbiota, affecting the abundance of specific bacterial groups.

While the gut microbiome generally begins to recover after antibiotic treatment, it may not fully return to its initial state, highlighting the potential for long-lasting effects.

A short course of clindamycin (7 days) led to significant changes in the gut bacteria, including a decrease in Bacteroides and enterococcal colonies, which persisted for up to 2 years after treatment.

Bacteriostatic drugs, which stop bacterial growth, can lead to an increase in Gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria are associated with an increase in genes involved in LPS (lipopolysaccharide) synthesis.

Bactericidal drugs, which kill bacteria, can increase the number of Gram-positive bacteria. These bacteria are associated with an over-representation of genes involved in endospore formation.

The eradication of Helicobacter pylori with antibiotics can have long-lasting effects on the gut microbiome, leading to the development of resistant strains that can persist for years.

Antibiotics used in dentistry can increase the number of resistant strains in the mouth, raise minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and eliminate non-pathogenic strains.

A disruption of the normal balance of microorganisms in the body, often caused by factors like antibiotic use.

The use of antibiotics can negatively impact the diversity and balance of the gut microbiota, leading to a decrease in beneficial bacteria and an increased risk of infections.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve and develop the ability to resist the effects of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.

The gut microbiota plays a critical role in a healthy body by preventing infections, regulating the immune system, producing important nutrients, and helping with energy balance.

Babies acquire their gut microbiota during birth and breastfeeding, which is essential for the development of their immune system.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics can kill both harmful pathogens and beneficial bacteria, leading to a reduction in gut microbiota diversity.

The use of antibiotics during pregnancy and breastfeeding can affect the gut microbiota composition of both the mother and the infant.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea and other intestinal problems in people whose gut microbiota has been disrupted, often by antibiotics.

Early-life exposure to antibiotics can disrupt the natural balance of gut bacteria, leading to changes in immunity and metabolism, potentially increasing the risk of obesity and other health issues later in life.

Antibiotics used in early life can alter the gut microbiome, leading to changes in gene expression related to immunity and metabolism.

Exposure to antibiotics early in life may increase the risk of allergies, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

The immune system develops during infancy while gut bacteria colonize the digestive tract. Disrupting this process can affect immune system development.

Antibiotic treatment can reduce the thickness of the protective layer in the colon, making it easier for harmful bacteria to invade and trigger inflammation.

Changes in gut bacteria caused by antibiotics can shift the balance of different immune cell types, potentially leading to a higher risk of allergies.

Antibiotics can alter the maturation of genes involved in immune system response, potentially affecting the body's ability to fight off infections.

Certain bacteria in the gut produce molecules that are essential for immune system development. Antibiotics can disrupt this process.

A change in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, specifically an increase in Firmicutes, has been linked to obesity, but specific levels of these bacteria are not necessarily indicative of obesity.

Studies have shown that antibiotic use, particularly vancomycin and gentamycin, can lead to weight gain after an episode of infectious endocarditis.

There's a strong association between changes in gut microbiome composition and the development of type 2 diabetes. Lower levels of butyrate-producing bacteria have been linked to the condition.

Antibiotics, such as clindamycin, can alter the gut microbiome, making it more susceptible to colonization by harmful pathogens like Clostridium difficile. This can lead to diarrhea and colitis.

Antibiotic treatment can significantly reduce the diversity of gut bacteria (alpha and beta diversity). This can affect levels of serotonin, tryptophan hydrolase, and secondary bile acids, potentially leading to changes in gut motility and metabolism.

The maternal gut microbiome plays a crucial role in shaping the infant's gut microbiome, immunity, and overall health. Antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and infancy can affect the infant's gut microbial diversity, potentially influencing their susceptibility to diseases later in life.

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that insufficient exposure to a diverse range of microbiota early in life can contribute to the development of immune-related disorders, such as asthma and allergic sensitization.

Antibiotics administered during infancy can disrupt the development of a diverse gut microbiome, potentially leading to similar effects as the hygiene hypothesis, increasing the risk of immune-related disorders like asthma and allergies.

Antimicrobial peptides like REGIII-γ are secreted by intestinal epithelial cells and their production is influenced by the gut microbiota.

Prenatal antibiotics can alter the gut microbiota and negatively impact CD8+ T lymphocyte activity in infant mice, making them more vulnerable to viral infections.

Antibiotics can alter the gut microbiota's functionality, impacting the production of essential metabolites like SCFAs and amino acids.

Butyrate and propionate, produced by gut bacteria, have anti-inflammatory roles and promote the development of regulatory T cells, which help suppress unwanted immune responses.

Antibiotics can cause changes in protein expression within gut bacteria, potentially impacting their metabolism and ability to cope with antibiotic stress.

Vancomycin and ciprofloxacin-metronidazole treatments can significantly reduce Firmicutes and SCFAs, particularly in female mice, highlighting sex-specific differences in gut microbiota responses.

Antibiotics can decrease the levels of specific amino acids, such as alanine and branched-chain amino acids, depending on the antibiotic and the sex of the animal.

Xenobiotics, including antibiotics, heavy metals, and environmental chemicals, can alter gut microbial composition, and in turn, the microbiota plays a crucial role in xenobiotic biotransformation.