Neonatal microbiota development and the effect of early life antibiotics are determined by two distinct settler types

The neonatal period, during which the initial gut microbiota is acquired, is a critical phase. The healthy development of the infant's microbiome can be interrupted by external perturbations, like antibiotics, which are associated with profound effects on the gut microbiome and various disorders later in life. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of intestinal microbiota and the effect of antibiotic exposure during the first three months of life in term infants. Fecal samples were collected from healthy infants and infants who received antibiotics in the first week of life at one week, one month, and three months after birth. Microbial composition was analyzed using IS-pro and compared between antibiotics-treated and untreated infants. In total, 98 infants, divided into four groups based on feeding type and delivery mode, were analyzed. At one week of age, samples clustered into two distinct groups, which were termed “settler types”, based on their Bacteroidetes abundance. Caesarean-born infants belonged to the low-Bacteroidetes settler type, but vaginally-born infants were divided between the two groups. The antibiotics effect was assessed within a subgroup of 45 infants, vaginally-born and exclusively breastfed, to minimize the effect of other confounders. Antibiotics administration resulted in lower Bacteroidetes diversity and/ or a delay in Bacteroidetes colonization, which persisted for three months, and in a differential development of the microbiota. Antibiotics resulted in pronounced effects on the Bacteroidetes composition and dynamics. Finally, we hypothesize that stratification of children's cohorts based on settler types may reveal group effects that might otherwise be masked

Wheezing and infantile colic are associated with neonatal antibiotic treatment

Cohort studies have suggested that early life antibiotic treatment is associated with increased risk of atopy. We determined whether antibiotic treatment already in the first week of life increases the risk for atopic and non-atopic disorders. The INCA study is a prospective observational birth cohort study of 436 term infants, with follow-up of one year. 151 neonates received broad-spectrum antibiotics for suspected neonatal infection (AB+), versus a healthy untreated control group (N=285) (AB-). In the first year, parents recorded daily (non-) allergic symptoms. At 1 year, doctors-diagnoses were registered and a blood sample was taken (n=205). Incidence of wheezing in the first year was higher in AB+ than AB- (41.0% vs. 30.5%, p=0.026; aOR 1.56 (95%CI 0.99-2.46, p=0.06). Infantile colics were more prevalent in AB+ compared to AB- (21.9% and 14.4% p=0.048), antibiotic treatment was an independent risk factor for infantile colics (aOR 1.66 (95%CI 1.00-2.77) p=0.05). Allergic sensitization (Phadiatop >0.70kUA/L) showed a trend towards a higher risk in AB+ (aOR 3.26 (95%CI 0.95-11.13) p=0.06). Incidence of eczema, infections, and GP visits in the first year were similar in AB+ and AB-. Antibiotic treatment in the first week of life is associated with an increased risk for wheezing and infantile colics. This study may provide a rationale for early cessation of antibiotics in neonates without proven or probable infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserve