Exposure to antibiotics during pregnancy alters offspring outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The composition of microorganisms is closely related to human health. Antibiotic use during pregnancy may have adverse effects on the neonatal gut microbiome and subsequently affect infant health development, leading to childhood atopy and allergic diseases, intestinal, metabolic and brain disorders, and infection. AREAS COVERED: This review includes the effect of maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy on potential diseases in animals and human offspring. EXPERT OPINION: Exposure to antibiotics during pregnancy alters offspring outcomes. Alterations in the microbiome may potentially lower the risk of a range of problems and may also be a novel therapeutic target in children later in life.