Author: Aldiyarbek Nurlan
Editor: Merentsova Anastasia
Scientists studied 490 breast milk samples from 86 mothers whose babies were born prematurely and who used antibiotics. The study was conducted during the first eight weeks after birth. Interestingly, the effects of antibiotic therapy were quite pronounced, and in some cases even lasted for weeks, which, according to scientists, was the result of the effect of the drugs used on microorganisms that play a primary role in the development of pathology.
The problem raised by the authors of the study is that about seven percent of babies born prematurely develop necrotizing enterocolitis (an inflammatory process affecting the small and large intestine, in which part of it dies), which in most cases ends in death.
Mothers of premature babies continued to take antibiotics for some cases of mastitis, blood poisoning, and early rupture of membranes. It is known that about 60 percent of women in this study used antibiotic therapy, which highlights both the great need for these drugs and the likelihood of abuse.
The authors of the work argue that it is necessary to narrow the range of antibiotics used by mothers of premature babies, and, if possible, reduce the course of administration.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200903114206.htm
