Effect of exposure to antibiotics on the gut microbiome and biochemical indexes of pregnant women

Abstract

IntroductionExposure to antibiotics (ABX) during pregnancy can have a systematic effect on both fetal and maternal health. Although previous biomonitoring studies have indicated the effects on children of extensive exposure to ABX, studies on pregnant women remain scarce. To explore the effect on pregnant women of environmental exposure to ABX through accidental ingestion and identify potential health risks, the present study investigated 122 pregnant women in East China between 2019 and 2020.Research design and methodsThe presence of six categories of ABX (quinolones, sulfonamides, lincosamides, tetracyclines, amide alcohol ABX, and β-lactams) in plasma samples taken from the pregnant women was investigated using an ABX kit and a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay.ResultsAll six ABX were detected in the plasma, with a detection rate of 17.2%. It was discovered that the composition of intestinal flora in pregnant women exposed to ABX was different from that of pregnant women who had not been exposed to ABX. The intestinal flora of pregnant women exposed to ABX also changed at both the phylum and genus levels, and several genera almost disappeared. Furthermore, the metabolic levels of glucose and insulin and the alpha diversity of pregnant women exposed to ABX were higher than those of pregnant women not exposed to ABX.ConclusionPregnant women are potentially at higher risk of adverse microbial effects. Glucose metabolism and insulin levels were generally higher in pregnant women exposed to ABX than in unexposed women. Also, the composition and color of the gut microbiome changed.

Maternal–Fetal Exposure to Antibiotics: Levels, Mother-to-Child Transmission, and Potential Health Risks

“…However, this study lacked a discussion on the specific concentrations of individual antibiotics. 87 Given that a large proportion of antibiotics entering the human body are excreted in urine, urine samples are easier to collect compared to blood and other biological materials, antibiotic levels in urine could serve as biomarkers for antibiotic exposure. 88 Most antibiotics that enter the human body are excreted in unchanged form as still-active compounds.…”

“…The findings identified six categories of antibiotics (sulfonamides, quinolones, tetracyclines, lincosamides, β-lactams, and amide alcohol antibiotics) in plasma, with a detection rate of 17.2%. However, this study lacked a discussion on the specific concentrations of individual antibiotics . Given that a large proportion of antibiotics entering the human body are excreted in urine, urine samples are easier to collect compared to blood and other biological materials, antibiotic levels in urine could serve as biomarkers for antibiotic exposure .…”

Bidirectional Interaction between Tetracyclines and Gut Microbiome

“…Enterobacteriaceae are also known to be pro-inflammatory, meaning the overgrowth of these populations could result in gut inflammation [75]. Tetracyclines, like all antibiotics, can affect the beneficial bacteria that make up the gut microbiome [39,76]. This can lead to a decrease in gut microbiome diversity, which has been linked to a range of health problems, including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.…”

Maternal Antibiotic Exposure and the Risk of Developing Antenatal Depressive Symptoms

“…Most commonly, they are prescribed oral antibiotics for the treatment of skin, urinary, respiratory, and ear infections, although prescribing antibiotics without a clear clinical indication is not uncommon during pregnancy [ 12 ]. The gastrointestinal microbiota ecosystem, which is believed to contribute to the regulation of mood and emotion [ 13 ], is altered by antibiotics [ 14 ], including during pregnancy [ 15 ]. Prior studies have identified a potential link between antibiotic exposure and the development of depression [ 16 ], including one study by Field et al [ 17 ] that explored it as a risk factor for antenatal depression.…”