Author(s) :

Pracheth Vitthaladevuni.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This paper analyzes the adverse effects of antibiotics on the human gut microbiome, combining survey data with published literature. A 31-question survey was administered across multiple U.S. states (CA, WA, MA, NC, TX, IL, GA, NJ, RI, AZ), Edmonton and Toronto in Canada, and Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Surat in India, and Basel in Switzerland, to collect public experiences with antibiotic use. Respondents (n=103) were surveyed and the results were compared with peer-reviewed studies and national databases, including the CDC and NIH. The findings suggest that antibiotic use disrupts gut microbial diversity, leading to digestive issues, immune dysregulation, skin irritation, and mood disorders. This disruption is especially concerning given the essential role of the gut microbiome in digestion, immunity, and the gut–brain axis. Literature demonstrates that microbiome development begins at birth and stabilizes in early childhood, but antibiotics can permanently reduce bacterial diversity. We discuss how antibiotic-induced dysbiosis contributes to chronic conditions, explore the relationship between the gut microbiome and immunity, and examine alternatives to antibiotics such as probiotics, prebiotics, bacteriophage therapy, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Understanding both the risks of antibiotics and pathways for microbiome restoration is crucial for future health management.