Open AccessLong-term impact of pre-incision antibiotics on children born by caesarean section: a longitudinal study based on UK electronic health records
Author(s) -
Dana Šumilo,
Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar,
Brian H Willis,
Gavin Rudge,
James Martín,
Krishna Gokhale,
Rasiah Thayakaran,
Nicola J Adderley,
Joht Singh Chandan,
Kelvin Okoth,
Isobel Marion Harris,
Ruth Hewston,
Magdalena Skrybant,
Jon Deeks,
Peter Brocklehurst
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
hta on dvd/health technology assessment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.426
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 2046-4924
pISSN - 1366-5278
DOI - 10.3310/zyzc8514
Subject(s) - medicine , caesarean section , pediatrics , pregnancy , antibiotics , asthma , medical record , obstetrics , surgery , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Since changes in the national guidance in 2011, prophylactic antibiotics for women undergoing caesarean section are recommended prior to skin incision, rather than after the baby's umbilical cord has been clamped. Evidence from randomised controlled trials conducted outside the UK has shown that this reduces maternal infectious morbidity; however, the prophylactic antibiotics also cross the placenta, meaning that babies are exposed to them around the time of birth. Antibiotics are known to affect the gut microbiota of the babies, but the long-term effects of exposure to high-dose broad-spectrum antibiotics around the time of birth on allergy and immune-related diseases are unknown.