State of the art: Intrapartum antibiotics in cesarean section, the infant microbiota and allergic diseases

Abstract

International clinical guidelines for cesarean section recommend administration of prophylactic antibiotics prior to surgical incision for all cases to reduce the global burden of maternal infectious morbidity and mortality around the time of birth. 1,2 The timing is specified as pre-incision to allow therapeutic tissue levels to be obtained at the potential site of infection at the time of incision and for the duration of the procedure. 3 This differs from the previous practice of administering antibiotics after cord clamping. 2 The change came about following evidence that pre-incision antibiotics reduce the incidence of maternal infection without short-term adverse effects for the neonate. 4,5 With rising rates of cesarean section in many countries worldwide, 6,7 this protocol change results in more neonates being exposed to antibiotics prior to birth than ever before. While the short-term

Influence of feeding practices in the composition and functionality of infant gut microbiota and its relationship with health

“…It has been implicated in preventing damage induced by opportunistic microbes, repairing damage to the mucosal barrier, and influencing systemic autoimmune diseases [ 28 ]. The mode of delivery has a direct influence on the infant’s intestinal microbiota, an important concern is the increase in the number of deliveries by cesarean section, as well the administration of prophylactic antibiotics, which could be related to an increased risk of allergic illness [ 29 ]. In our study 52% of the infants were born by cesarean section, however, all of them were in accordance with the exclusion criteria about the infant antibiotic usage three months prior to be enrolled and during the study period.…”