Researchers analyzed 11 studies involving very preterm infants to look at the effects of early postnatal antibiotic exposure. The goal was to see how these medications impact health outcomes like lung disease and infection.
The analysis found that infants who received early antibiotics had a higher risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia, which is a chronic lung condition. There was also a significant increase in the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious intestinal condition, and an increased risk of mortality. No clear link was found between early antibiotic use and late-onset sepsis.
Because these findings come from observational data, they show a link rather than a direct cause. Some results regarding mortality should be viewed with caution because of potential publication bias in the original studies. These findings suggest that while antibiotics are necessary for some infections, their timing and use in very preterm infants may have associated risks.
