Antibiotic exposure and adverse long-term health outcomes in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: The Journal of infection Vol. 85; no. 3; pp. 213 - 300
• Main Authors: Duong, Quynh A, Pittet, Laure F, Curtis, Nigel, Zimmermann, Petra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Abdominal pain; ADHD; Allergies; Arthritis; Asthma; Atopy; Autism spectrum disorder; Celiac disease; Diabetes; Eczema; Inflammatory bowel disease; Obesity; Overweight; Psoriasis; Obesity; ADHD; Psoriasis; Arthritis; Allergies; Autism spectrum disorder; Asthma; Atopy; Overweight; Inflammatory bowel disease; Celiac disease; Eczema; Abdominal pain; Diabetes
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.01.005

Antibiotics are amongst the most commonly used drugs in children. In addition to inducing antibiotic resistance, antibiotic exposure has been associated with adverse long-term health outcomes. A systematic search using PRISMA guidelines to identify original studies reporting associations between antibiotic exposure and adverse long-term health outcomes in children. Overall pooled estimates of the odds ratios (ORs) were obtained using random-effects models. We identified 160 observational studies investigating 21 outcomes in 22,103,129 children. Antibiotic exposure was associated with an increased risk of atopic dermatitis (OR 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30–1.52, p < 0.01), allergic symptoms (OR 1.93, 95%CI 1.66–2.26, p < 0.01), food allergies (OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.20–1.52, p < 0.01), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.51–1.83, p < 0.01), wheezing (OR 1.81, 95%CI 1.65–1.97, p < 0.01), asthma (OR 1.96, 95%CI 1.76–2.17, p < 0.01), increased weight gain or overweight (OR 1.18, 95%CI 1.11–1.26, p < 0.01), obesity (OR 1.21, 95%CI 1.05–1.40, p < 0.01), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.21–2.52, p < 0.01), psoriasis (OR 1.75, 95%CI 1.44–2.11, p < 0.01), autism spectrum disorders (OR 1.19, 95%CI 1.04–1.36, p = 0.01) and neurodevelopment disorders (OR 1.29, 95%CI 1.09–1.53, p < 0.01). Dose-response effects and stronger effects with broad-spectrum antibiotic were often reported. Antibiotic exposure was not associated with an altered risk of allergic sensitisation, infantile colic, abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, fluorosis, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Although a causal association cannot be determined from these studies, the results support the meticulous application of sound antibiotic stewardship to avoid potential adverse long-term health outcomes.