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Review
. 2020 Nov 16;8(11):502.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8110502.

Effects of Antibiotics upon the Gut Microbiome: A Review of the Literature

Theocharis Konstantinidis  1 , Christina Tsigalou  1 , Alexandros Karvelas  1 , Elisavet Stavropoulou  2 , Chrissoula Voidarou  3 , Eugenia Bezirtzoglou  4
Affiliations
Review

Effects of Antibiotics upon the Gut Microbiome: A Review of the Literature

Theocharis Konstantinidis et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

The human gastrointestinal tract carries a large number of microorganisms associated with complex metabolic processes and interactions. Although antibiotic treatment is crucial for combating infections, its negative effects on the intestinal microbiota and host immunity have been shown to be of the utmost importance. Multiple studies have recognized the adverse consequences of antibiotic use upon the gut microbiome in adults and neonates, causing dysbiosis of the microbiota. Repeated antibiotic treatments in clinical care or low-dosage intake from food could be contributing factors in this issue. Researchers in both human and animal studies have strived to explain this multifaceted relationship. The present review intends to elucidate the axis of the gastrointestinal microbiota and antibiotics resistance and to highlight the main aspects of the issue.

Keywords: antibiotics; gut microbiome; microbiota; resistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of antibiotics upon the gut microbiome. Antibiotic treatment is crucial for combating infections. On the other hand, antibiotic exposure can alter many basic equilibria in terms of intestinal microbiota and host immunity, promoting long-term disease. DC: dendritic cells; DAMP: damage-associated molecular patterns; PMNs: polymorphonuclear leukocytes; PAMP: pathogen-associated molecular patterns; Th: T helper cells.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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