Introduction:
Antibiotics are medicines that are generally prescribed to treat infections. They have a role in killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria, making them an important tool in infectious medicine. However, these antibiotics have a considerable negative impact on the gut microbiota and host immunity. The gut microbiome contains trillions of microorganisms, and its balance is crucial for good digestive health, immunity, and overall well-being. This article deals with antibiotics, their benefits, their harmful effect on gut microorganisms, and ways to overcome this challenge.
What Are Antibiotics and Its Benefits?
Antibiotics represent a class of medications aimed at killing or inhibiting bacterial growth. The first antibiotic discovered was Penicillin by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928. Since then, multiple antibiotics have developed and become an integral part of the medical world. Most antibiotics affect the bacteria by breaking their cell wall, inhibiting the synthesis of proteins, or stopping DNA replication in the bacteria. Altogether, this leads to the death of the bacteria (bactericidal) or inhibits its growth (bacteriostatic).
The benefits of antibiotics:
1. Bacterial Infections: They are mainly used to treat all types of bacterial infections in the human body. They are effective against oral cavity infections and other urinary tract infections. Usually, a broad-spectrum antibiotic is first prescribed, and if ineffective, specific antibiotics based on culture are prescribed. Timely administration of antibiotics is a life savior, particularly in threatening infections like:
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Sepsis: This occurs when the body’s response to infection gets hampered, and it gets spread widely through organs. This leads to widespread organ damage, too. Prompt administration of antibiotics halts the progress and prevents complications.
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Pneumonia: It refers to a form of lung infection, usually caused by bacteria. This is fatal as it can lead to complications like lung failure and sepsis. Antibiotics are to be administered promptly to prevent the spread of infection and improve lung function.
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Septic Arthritis: Joint infections that are widespread and cause full damage to joints with time. Antibiotics are essential to eradicate the infectious agent and reduce inflammation.
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Meningitis: This condition affects the meninges, the membrane around the brain, and the spinal cord. If this gets infected, it can lead to brain damage and death. Antibiotics are considered life-saving if given at the earliest.
2. Pre-operative Before Medical Interventions: Surgical procedures and interventions have a certain degree of risk of contamination, even if all protocol is followed. Hence, it is ideal to administer antibiotics prophylactically to prevent any post-surgery risk of infections.
What Are the Harmful Risks to the Gut Microbiota?
The gut microbiota comprises different clusters of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in a complex ecosystem with a symbiotic relationship with the host. This balanced equation is necessary for maintaining the normal functioning of the body. There are various factors influencing and causing imbalance. Among them, antibiotic usage is one of the most important factors involved.
Their harmful risks to the gut include:
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Dysbiosis: Antibiotics are designed to kill or inhibit bacterial growth in the body indiscriminately, affecting all the bacteria, infectious ones and good beneficial ones. This results in a disruption in the balance of the gut microbiome called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is the leading cause of various digestive issues and disorders. They also allow opportunistic organisms to grow and thrive.
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Altered Metabolic Function: The microbiome has an important role in participating in several metabolic functions in the body. They participate in the digestion of fibers and produce fatty acids. When antibiotic usage and microbiome balance are disrupted, this results in improper metabolic functions, impacting nutrient absorption and metabolic health.
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Resistance Issues: Antibiotic resistance is developing fast with its increased misuse. It is a global health concern and has great public health concerns. Improper and uncontrolled antibiotic usage has led to the growth of resistant strains, reducing the effect of available medicines.
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Mental Health Effect: There is a connection between gut microbiota and the nervous system. Antibiotic-induced gut alterations are common and influence brain function and health. Anxiety and depression are associated with this.
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Long-Term Effects: In the long term, antibiotics have been shown to induce significant changes in gut microbiota. They predispose the body to obesity and allergies, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic disorders like diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
What Are the Various Ways to Overcome the Harm of Antibiotics on the Gut Microbiota?
Antibiotics are considered as a double-edged sword. While it does have many benefits, its risks and effects on the gut microbiota and its growing concern of resistance are alarming. Below are a few strategies that can be used to support the restoration of healthy microbiota and improve overall life.
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Careful and Proper Antibiotic Usage: Antibiotic regimen should be adhered to properly. The healthcare providers should take a complete course of treatment as directed. The healthcare providers must evaluate this situation and prescribe antibiotics only when necessary. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics must be considered as they are more targeted and do not affect the overall microbiota.
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Probiotics and Prebiotics: Foods rich in probiotics, like garlic, onion, bananas, and green leafy vegetables, and fermented foods such as yogurt and kimchi must be administered more. They contribute to restoring the beneficial gut microbiota and provide them with nutrition, supporting their overall growth. After intake of antibiotics, a round of probiotics is advised to recover the lost microbial organisms.
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Regular Exercise: Regular physical activity is associated with improved gut microbiota and overall health. The body produces beneficial components as a result of exercise.
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Healthy Lifestyle: Leading a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, having diverse foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc., having adequate sleep, and stopping habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and junk and processed foods. These also help restore the gut microbiota.
Conclusion:
Antibiotics are a class of medications that have immense benefits against many infections, including life-endangering ones. However, they also have potentially harmful effects on the gut microbiota. They disrupt the microbiome by destroying the beneficial bacteria, leading to dysbiosis, gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, and other metabolic disorders. These risks emphasize the need to use antibiotics judiciously and the consumption of healthy and fermented probiotic foods. By doing this, the benefits of antibiotics can be utilized well without worrying about the potential effects of gut microbiota.
