Skip to main content
About the Institute
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Russian
  • Portuguese
  • Polish
  • Turkish

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. The power of your gut
  3. Impact of antibiotics on the gut microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
    • Press room
    About the Institute

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo
The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. The power of your gut
  3. Impact of antibiotics on the gut microbiota
The power of your gut

Impact of antibiotics on the gut microbiota

Antibiotics
The gut microbiota Antibiotic-associated diarrhea

A major medical discovery of the 20th century, antibiotics have saved millions of lives, but their excessive and often inappropriate use has led to the emergence of multiple forms of antibiotic resistance. This past November, the WHO publicly highlighted the importance of using antibiotics prudently. 

The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
    • Press room
    About the Institute

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo

Sources

This article is based on scientific information

Sharing is caring

Your friends might be interested in this topic. Why not share it?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
Actu GP : Antibiotiques : quels impacts sur le microbiote intestinal ?

About this article

Created 13 January 2021
Updated 08 August 2023

The use of antibiotics increased by 65% between 2000 and 2015. This new study reminds us that when eradicating pathogenic germs responsible for infections, antibiotics can also destroy beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiota, thereby causing an imbalance (dysbiosis) within this ecosystem, with potential short and long-term consequences.

Image

If you are interested in the effects of antibiotics on your health and your microbiota, or if you want to know more about the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), we recommend that you go to this other dedicated page:

Antibiotics: what impact on the microbiota and on our health?

Learn more

Adverse effects on microbiota in the short and medium term...

The first thing to note is that antibiotics disrupt the balance existing in the gut microbiota. By eliminating certain bacteria, they allow other pathogens to occupy the free space and multiply. One consequence is antibiotic-associated diarrhea, which affects between 5% and 35% of patients but usually resolves spontaneously within a few days. However, some forms of diarrhea can be more severe and when caused by Clostridioides difficile they may even be fatal.

03.11.2021 Have you heard of "dysbiosis"? Read more
28.10.2021 6 things you should know about antibiotics Read more

The second observation is that antibiotics are linked to a reduction in microbiota diversity. A return to equilibrium may take some time, with certain bacteria still absent after several months. Lastly, the repeated or inappropriate use of antibiotics leads bacteria to develop strategies to circumvent their effects. Bacteria can become antibiotic-resistant, thereby rendering treatments ineffective. The experts’ predictions are unsettling: unless drastic measures are taken to address the issue, the misuse of antibiotics could cause ten million deaths worldwide by 2050.

+65% The use of antibiotics increased by 65% between 2000 and 2015.

5% - 35% Antibiotic-associated diarrhea affects between 5% and 35% of patients.

...with serious long-term consequences

Systemic use of antibiotics is still far too widespread among infants and children and is thought to be associated with the development of diseases later in life (obesity, asthma, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease). This battle is far from won and the scientific community is actively seeking new strategies to restore the gut microbiota, based on multiple modulation pathways (diet, probiotics, prebiotics).

Learn more
Probiotics
Image

The gut microbiota

Learn more
What is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week?

Each year, since 2015, the WHO organizes the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), which aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance. 

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi change over time and no longer respond to medicines. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
Held on 18-24 November, this campaign encourages the general public, healthcare professionals and decision-makers to use antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics carefully, to prevent the further emergence of antimicrobial resistance. 

Sources

Ramirez J, Guarner F, Bustos Fernandez L, et al. Antibiotics as Major Disruptors of Gut Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020 Nov 2

International Microbiota Observatory

Discover the 2023 results
Tags
AAD Dysbiosis Antibiotic Antibiotic resistance Antibiotics WAAW World Antimicrobial Awareness Week Antimicrobials

en_view en_sources

    See also

    6 things you should know about antibiotics
    Antibiotics during the first year of life increase risk of developing celiac disease
    Created 13 January 2021
    Updated 08 August 2023

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Antibiotics

    Related microbiotas

    The gut microbiota

    Related topics

    Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
    The power of your gut

    Probiotics

    Probiotics: essential information for understanding and choosing them correctly. What exactly are probiotic...

    Find out more

    Prebiotics: what you need to know

    With just one different letter separating prebiotics and probiotics, no wonder they get confused! To muddy ...

    Find out more

    How our gut constantly talks to our brain

    Our gut, often called our “second brain”, owns 200 million neurons (enteric nervous system), hosts several ...

    Find out more

    The gut microbiota

    Gut microbiota: why is it that important for your health? We have trillions1 of bacteria that populate our ...

    Find out more

    Functional gastrointestinal disorders

    Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs), the most common intestinal afflictions, are a collection of c...

    Find out more

    Digestive disorders

    Find out more

    Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

    Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), previously called a “functional bowel disorder”, is the most common gut-bra...

    Find out more

    Pediatric disorders

    Find out more

    Latest news

    News
    Photo: La maladie de Cushing déstabilise durablement le microbiote
    06.09.2023

    Cushing's syndrome leads to long-term disruption of the gut microbiota

    Read the article
    10.07.2023

    The longer the physical activity, the better for the microbiota

    Read the article
    Photo: Quand la migraine prend aux tripes
    29.03.2023

    Migraine: a gut feeling?

    Read the article
    Antibiotics: what impact on the microbiota and on our health?
    12.10.2022

    Antibiotics: what impact on the microbiota and on our health?

    Read the article
    Actu PRO un lien etabli entre microbiote intestinal et infections respiratoires
    07.05.2020

    The role of intestinal microbiota in respiratory infections

    Read the article
    12.09.2023

    Parkinson’s disease: the walls are closing in on Desulfovibrio bacteria

    Read the article
    Actu GP : Le jus d’orange, c’est bon pour votre microbiote !
    23.04.2020

    What to drink during the lockdown? Orange juice is good for your microbiota!

    Read the article
    Actu GP : Le thé vert, c’est bon pour mon microbiote !
    28.01.2020

    Green tea is good for your microbiota!

    Read the article
    My health, my microbiota
    Follow our Facebook page
    Our marvelous microbiota
    Get to understand our microbiota and the role they play in our body
    Find your dedicated section
    Healthcare professionals
    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo
    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Russian
    • Portuguese
    • Polish
    • Turkish

    Browse the site

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Redirection

    You are about to be redirected and leave our website

    • Be redirected
    • Stay on the Biocodex Microbiota Institute's website

    Stay with us !

    Join the microbiota community and receive "The Essentials" once a month to stay up to date with the latest news on the microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    Explore

    12.09.2023

    Parkinson’s disease: the walls are closing in on Desulfovibrio bacteria

    Read the article
    Photo: La maladie de Cushing déstabilise durablement le microbiote
    06.09.2023

    Cushing's syndrome leads to long-term disruption of the gut microbiota

    Read the article
    29.08.2023

    Antibiotic resistance genes float in the clouds

    Read the article

    Stay updated

    Join the Microbiota Community and receive once a month “The Essential” to stay up to date on the latest news about microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    © 2022 Biocodex. All rights reserved.

    • Cookies Policy
    • Data protection policy
    • GTU
    • Sitemap
    • Cookies settings
    Biocodex logo