Antibiotic-perturbed microbiota and the role of probiotics

Antibiotics disrupt the human microbiota, leading to side effects like Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea. However, there is no evidence linking these effects to microbiota protection or recovery. Challenges include the lack of consensus on a ‘normal’ microbiota, non-standardized measurement methods, and inter-individual variation. This review explores the benefits and risks of antibiotics, their impact on the human microbiota, and the resilience and adaptability of the microbiota. It also discusses the efficacy of probiotics in preventing disruption or aiding microbiota recovery post-antibiotic treatment. Current evidence does not support the idea that probiotics can restore the microbiota to its pre-antibiotic state, and some probiotics may attenuate antibiotic-induced effects on gut bacteria and metabolic end products.