State of the art: Intrapartum antibiotics in cesarean section, the infant microbiota and allergic diseases

With increasing rates of cesarean section worldwide and international guidelines advising pre-incision antibiotics, neonatal exposure to pre-birth antibiotics is higher than ever before. Emerging evidence has raised concern regarding the impact of such antibiotics on the neonatal intestinal microbiota, immune system development and health conditions later in life. This narrative review investigates current protocols for intrapartum prophylactic antibiotics in cesarean section, how this and other factors may affect the neonatal intestinal microbiota and whether intrapartum antibiotics used for cesarean section are linked to the development of allergic disease.

Automated summary

With the increasing rates of cesarean section and the use of pre-incision antibiotics, neonatal exposure to antibiotics before birth is higher than ever. This review examines the protocols for intrapartum prophylactic antibiotics in cesarean section, the impact on neonatal intestinal microbiota, and the potential link to the development of allergic disease.