The Gut Microbiome Under Siege: Antibiotics as Friend and Foe in Gastrointestinal Health

Authors

  • LAIBA SAHER Karachi medical and dental college Author
  • SAHAR HASEEB Karachi medical and dental college Author
  • LAIBA GHAURI Karachi medical and dental college Author
  • MINAHAL WASEEM Karachi medical and dental college Author
  • SYEDA KHADIJA HASSAN Karachi medical and dental college Author
  • Dr SHAYAN ZUFISHAN Karachi medical and dental college Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63501/j0dbnf72

Keywords:

Anti-Bacterial Agents , Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Dysbioses, Gastrointestinal Disorders

Abstract

This literature overview delves into the consequence of antibiotic-associated dysbiosis on the makeup of the microbial community of the Gastrointestinal tract and also its connection with numerous diseases. It also provides information about antibiotics, its classes and phyla of gut bacteria related to dysbiosis. Some well known research databases like PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library were explored using a key-word based strategy and after careful analysis, 50 out of 89 articles were selected for inclusion after the screening process. Various gut diseases are often related  to microbiome composition. This review explores the consequence of overuse of antibiotics on the gut microbial diversity resulting in potential dysbiosis which contribute to several gut disorders for example; Clostridioides Difficile Infection, Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS), Celiac disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Moreover, it specifies the key changes in bacterial phylum such as  Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. In recent times, curiosity about the gut microbiota has increased because of its pivotal role in human physiology and essential biological processes. Antibiotic treatments, while targeting bacteria, often disrupt gut microbial balance and lead to long term diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer.  

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2026-03-24

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