Gut biome is changed by antibiotics

Antibiotic use significantly alters the gut biome by reducing microbial diversity, disrupting the balance of bacterial species, and promoting the dominance of resistant strains; these changes can last weeks to months or, in some cases, may be permanent in sensitive individuals.frontiersin+2

Impact on Microbial Diversity

• Antibiotics can quickly diminish both the number and variety of beneficial gut bacteria, with certain species becoming undetectable for extended periods—sometimes up to six months or longer after treatment.medicalnewstoday+2

• The reduction in diversity is more pronounced with broad-spectrum antibiotics and when multiple courses are taken over time.bmjopen.bmj+1

Functional Consequences

• Antibiotic-driven changes can lead to metabolic imbalances, impaired immune responses, and a greater risk of pathogen colonization, such as Clostridioides difficile.gutmicrobiotaforhealth+1

• Early-life exposure is especially disruptive and increases the risk of chronic conditions like allergies, obesity, and autoimmune disorders later in life.gutmicrobiotaforhealth

Recovery and Long-term Effects

• The gut microbiome may recover to its baseline within a few weeks post-antibiotic in many healthy adults, but for some, a full recovery never occurs, and some beneficial bacterial strains may be lost permanently.bbc+2

• Each course of antibiotics raises the chance of enriching drug-resistant genes within the gut, affecting future health and infection risk.bbc

Antibiotics, while critical against infections, are major disruptors of the gut microbiome and have far-reaching, potentially long-lasting health effects.frontiersin+2

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8756738/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590097824000090
3. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/antibiotics-can-temporarily-wipe-out-gut-microbiome
4. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.572912/full
5. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/do-antibiotics-harm-healthy-gut-bacteria
6. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230825-do-antibiotics-really-wipe-out-your-gut-bacteria
7. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e035677
8. https://www.gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-effects-of-antibiotics-on-the-gut-microbiome-and-how-to-recover-after-taking-them/
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27028893/
10. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124722004016