Early antibiotics and risk for necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants: A narrative review.

ABSTRACT: While prompt initiation of antibiotics at birth due to concerns for early onset sepsis is common, it often leads to many preterm infants being exposed to treatment despite negative blood cultures. Such exposure to early antibiotics can impact the developing gut microbiome putting infants at increased risk of several diseases. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating inflammatory bowel disease that affects preterm infants, is among the most widely studied neonatal disease that has been linked to early antibiotics. While some studies have demonstrated an increased risk of NEC, other studies have demonstrated seemingly contrary findings of decreased NEC with early antibiotics. Studies using animal models have also yielded differing findings of benefit vs. harm of early antibiotic exposu

SUBMITTER: Cuna A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9971631 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature