Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study assessing the Impact of Probiotic Supplementation on Antibiotic Induced Changes in the Gut Microbiome.
This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study examines the effect of a probiotic blend (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis, and Saccharomyces boulardii) on the gut microbiome and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in adults undergoing non-gastrointestinal antibiotic treatment. Participants were assigned to receive either the probiotic blend or a placebo, with fecal samples collected at baseline, post-antibiotic treatment, and 30 days post-treatment for metagenomic and resistome analysis. Results indicated that the probiotic group maintained microbial diversity and demonstrated a significant decrease in ARG abundance, in contrast to the placebo group which showed decreased diversity and increased ARGs post-treatment. Functional analysis suggested a reduction in beta-lactam resistance in the probiotic group, indicating a protective effect against antibiotic associated disruption and antimicrobial resistance within the microbiome. Co-occurrence network analysis showed a more stable bacterial community structure in the probiotic group compared to the placebo. These findings suggest that probiotic supplementation alongside antibiotic therapy may mitigate adverse effects on the gut microbiome, preserving diversity and reducing ARG abundance, and highlight the potential role of probiotics in managing antimicrobial resistance.