Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics eliminate pathogenic bacteria but may also kill beneficial gut microbes, disrupting gut ecosystem balance.

This imbalance, called dysbiosis, can reduce the diversity of normal gut bacteria and allow opportunistic pathogens to flourish.

Continued use of antibiotics also encourages the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut.

During antibiotic treatment, alterations in the gut microbiota change microbial metabolic activity, including the production of short-chain fatty acids and the transformation of bile acids, which are vital for digestion and immunity.

As a result, supporting the recovery of the gut microbiota after antibiotic treatment helps to reestablish these metabolic and immune functions.

Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, help restore balance by competing with harmful microbes.

Meanwhile, prebiotics, which are non-digestible fibers, nourish these beneficial bacteria and promote the production of short-chain fatty acids. Together, these agents accelerate restoration of healthy gut microbiota.