Higher risk of allergies at 4-6 years of age after systemic antibiotics in the first week of life

The association between exposure to antibiotics in the first week of life and later otitis media: The INCA study

Otitis media (OM) is one of the most common diagnoses in preschool-age children. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood, but is associated with changes in the nasopharyngeal microbiome, immune system, and presence of allergies. These, in turn, can be affected by early-life antibiotic exposure. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if antibiotic treatment in the first week of life in children born at term was associated with acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) in the first 4-6 years of life.

METHODS

A prospective birth cohort of 436 term-born infants was followed up at 4-6 years of age. Parents reported (recurrent) AOM and OME through online questionnaires, sent to parents of 418 eligible children. Doctors' diagnoses of AOM and OME were collected after additional informed consent. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to study the association between antibiotic exposure and AOM and OME.

RESULTS

Of the 436 infants, 151 infants received antibiotics in the first week of life. In total, 341 (82%) questionnaires were collected. The parental-reported prevalence was 45% (155/341) for AOM. Of these 155 children, 33 children also had OME (10% of the total cohort). Doctor's diagnoses were obtained from 308 (74%) children, of which 30% (91/308) had AOM. Of these 91 children, 12 children also had OME and 8 children had OME without a diagnosis of AOM (6% of the total obtained diagnoses). Antibiotic treatment in the first week of life was not significantly associated with parent-reported nor doctor-diagnosed (recurrent) AOM and OME in the first 4-6 years of life in the regression models.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic treatment in the first week of life was not associated with AOM and OME in the first 4-6 years of life in this prospective cohort of Dutch infants. More insight into the pathophysiology of OM is warranted to determine whether antibiotic-induced microbiome changes play a role in the susceptibility to OM.

How primary care providers can help prevent food allergies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

IgE-mediated food allergy rates have increased in recent decades, yet treatment options remain limited. Prevention strategies are thus essential. We will review recent research and consensus guidelines for food allergy prevention.

RECENT FINDINGS

Research has continued to support that early introduction of allergens via the gastrointestinal tract induces tolerance and prevents development of food allergy. In contrast, allergen sensitization may occur via transcutaneous allergen exposure. This is supported by research that shows a decreased risk of food allergy with aggressive treatment of atopic dermatitis. More recent research suggests that transcutaneous sensitization could also be facilitated by frequent emollient use in the absence of atopic dermatitis but definitive research is lacking. Murine models have shown a likely role of dysbiosis, or disruption of the body's normal healthy microbiome, in development of food allergy, yet human studies have yet to show a conclusive benefit of probiotics in the prevention of food allergy.

SUMMARY

Important approaches for food allergy prevention are: introduction of peanut and cooked egg at 4-6 months, early introduction of other allergenic foods, and early diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis (because of a predisposition to food sensitization through the damaged skin barrier). More research is needed to clarify the role, if any, of emollient use and probiotics.

Neonatal Antibiotics and Food Allergy Are Associated With FGIDs at 4-6 Years of Age

OBJECTIVES

Antibiotics may contribute to the development of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). This study aimed to determine whether antibiotics during the first week of life, infantile colic in the first year of life, gut-associated immune markers at 1 year of age, and allergies at 4-6 years of age in term-born children were associated with a higher prevalence of FGIDs at 4-6 years of age.

METHODS

A prospective observational cohort of 436 term-born infants was followed up at the age of 4-6 years; 151 received broad-spectrum antibiotics (AB+), and 285 healthy controls (AB-). Validated Questionnaire On Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms-Rome III and International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood questionnaires were sent to parents of 418 available children. The independent t-test, chi-squared test or non-parametric test and logistic multivariate regression analyses were used.

RESULTS

In total, 340 of 418 (81%) questionnaires were completed. Only the presence of functional abdominal pain was significantly higher in AB+ than AB- (4% vs 0.4%, respectively, P  = 0.045). Children with food allergy fulfilled significantly more often the criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and abdominal migraine (26% vs 9%, P  = 0.002 and 7% vs 1%, P  = 0.043, respectively) compared to non-allergic children. No differences in FGIDs existed at the age of 4-6 years between children with and without a history of infantile colic. There were significant differences in gut-associated immune markers between children with and without FGIDs.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotics during the first week of life resulted in a higher risk for functional abdominal pain at 4-6 years. Furthermore, food allergy was associated with IBS and abdominal migraine at 4-6years.

Effect of antibiotics in the first week of life on faecal microbiota development

BACKGROUND

Infants are frequently exposed to antibiotics (AB) in the first week of life for suspected bacterial infections. Little is known about the effect of AB on the developing intestinal microbiota. Therefore, we studied intestinal microbiota development with and without AB exposure in the first week of life in term born infants.

METHODS

We analysed the faecal microbiota from birth until 2.5 years of age by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in a cohort with 56 term born infants, exposed to AB in the first week of life (AB+) (AB for 2-3 days (AB2, n=20), AB for 7 days (AB7, n=36)), compared with 126 healthy controls (AB-). The effects of AB and duration were examined in relation to delivery and feeding mode.

RESULTS

AB+ was associated with significantly increased relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae at 3 weeks and 1 year and a decrease of Bifidobacteriaceae, from 1 week until 3 months of age only in vaginally delivered, but not in C-section born infants. Similar deviations were noted in AB7, but not in AB2. After AB, breastfed infants had lower relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae compared with formula fed infants and recovered 2 weeks faster towards controls.

CONCLUSIONS

AB exposure in the first week of life alters faecal microbiota development with deviations in the relative abundance of individual taxa until 1 year of age. These alterations can have long-term health consequences, which emphasises the need for future studies aiming at restoring intestinal microbiota after AB administration.

Clinical outcomes following pre-, pro- and synbiotic supplementation after caesarean birth or antibiotic exposure in the first week of life in term born infants: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Caesarean section and early exposure to antibiotics disrupt the developing gastrointestinal microbiome, which is associated with long-term health effects.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the impact of prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics supplementation on clinical health outcomes of term infants born by caesarean section or exposed to antibiotics in the first week of life.

DESIGN

A systematic search was performed in Medline and Embase from inception to August 2021. Title and abstract screening (n = 11,248), full text screening (n = 48), and quality assessment were performed independently by two researchers.

RESULTS

Six RCTs studying caesarean born infants were included, group sizes varied between 32-193 with in total 752 children. No studies regarding supplementation after neonatal antibiotic exposure were found. Three studies administered a probiotic, one a prebiotic, one a synbiotic, and one study investigated a prebiotic and synbiotic. Several significant effects were reported at follow-up varying between 10 days and 13 years: a decrease in atopic diseases (n = 2 studies), higher immune response to tetanus and polio vaccinations (n = 2), lower response to influenza vaccination (n = 1), fewer infectious diseases (n = 2), and less infantile colic (n = 1), although results were inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementation of caesarean-born infants with prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics resulted in significant improvements in some health outcomes as well as vaccination responses. Due to the variety of studied products and the paucity of studies, no recommendations can be given yet on the routine application of prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics to improve health outcomes after caesarean section or neonatal antibiotic exposure.

Early Life Antibiotics Influence In Vivo and In Vitro Mouse Intestinal Epithelium Maturation and Functioning

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The use of antibiotics (ABs) is a common practice during the first months of life. ABs can perturb the intestinal microbiota, indirectly influencing the intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), but can also directly affect IECs independent of the microbiota. Previous studies have focused mostly on the impact of AB treatment during adulthood. However, the difference between the adult and neonatal intestine warrants careful investigation of AB effects in early life.

METHODS

Neonatal mice were treated with a combination of amoxicillin, vancomycin, and metronidazole from postnatal day 10 to 20. Intestinal permeability and whole-intestine gene and protein expression were analyzed. IECs were sorted by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and their genome-wide gene expression was analyzed. Mouse fetal intestinal organoids were treated with the same AB combination and their gene and protein expression and metabolic capacity were determined.

RESULTS

We found that in vivo treatment of neonatal mice led to decreased intestinal permeability and a reduced number of specialized vacuolated cells, characteristic of the neonatal period and necessary for absorption of milk macromolecules. In addition, the expression of genes typically present in the neonatal intestinal epithelium was lower, whereas the adult gene expression signature was higher. Moreover, we found altered epithelial defense and transepithelial-sensing capacity. In vitro treatment of intestinal fetal organoids with AB showed that part of the consequences observed in vivo is a result of the direct action of the ABs on IECs. Lastly, ABs reduced the metabolic capacity of intestinal fetal organoids.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that early life AB treatment induces direct and indirect effects on IECs, influencing their maturation and functioning.