BU Research Blog

This month the publication of a Bournemouth University led systematic review and meta-analysis under the title ‘Impact of mode of birth and perinatal antibiotics on infant gut microbiota and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis’ [1].  Congratulations to Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science colleagues Dr. Heide Singleton, Dr. Chris Long, Dr. Anna Mantzouratou, and PPIE (Public and Patient Involvement Engagement) representatives: Hayley Brown and Stevie Corbin-Clarke, former BU student Rabeea Maqsood and Consultant Neonatologist Prof. Minesh Khashu from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

This review, the first to integrate both delivery mode and perinatal antibiotic exposure within a single analysis, suggests a consistent directional pattern of association between these exposures and early microbial assembly, with exclusive breastfeeding mitigating some potential negative effects. Due to imprecision in estimates and inherent limitations of observational data, pooled differences were not statistically significant, and overall certainty of evidence was very low. Long-term clinical consequences remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further study.

Congratulations,

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen