Antibiotics and children

Even short-term administration of antibiotics in infancy can lead to longterm metabolic changes.

A study reported in Nature Communications aimed to replicate the impact of the two antibiotic classes most commonly prescribed to children on the microbiome (gut flora) of mouse pups. They found that both types of antibiotic classes (macrolide and beta-lactam), produced changes in the diversity of the beneficial gut flora that remained for months after their discontinuation.

This resulted in long-lasting systemic metabolic consequences altering carbohydrate metabolism, hepatic gene expression and reducing bone density.

The macrolide antibiotics had the most impact, which certainly suggests the importance of co-prescribing pre- and probiotics to children given these medications, both during and after medication has ceased.