REVIEW PAPER
The impact of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis on the microbiological composition of human milk and the development of the neonatal microbiota: a review of the literature
1
Department of Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
Submission date: 2026-02-18
Final revision date: 2026-03-24
Acceptance date: 2026-03-25
Online publication date: 2026-09-23
Publication date: 2026-10-07
Corresponding author
Paulina Gaweł
Department of Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Department of Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Pediatr Pol 2026;101(3):223-232
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Perinatal gut colonisation plays a crucial role in neonatal development. Microorganisms in colostrum and human milk are among the first to colonise the neonatal gastrointestinal tract, playing a key role in shaping a healthy gut microbiota. Current evidence indicates that perinatal antibiotic exposure may disrupt early microbial colonisation and modulate human milk microbiota. The most common form of this exposure is intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, administered to over 40% of women because of vaginal colonisation with Streptococcus agalactiae or the need for caesarean delivery. Despite growing interest, available studies are limited, highlighting the need to better understand factors shaping human milk microbiota and early neonatal gut development. Therefore, this review aims to summarise current evidence regarding the impact of perinatal antibiotic exposure on the micro- biological composition of human milk and the establishment of the neonatal gut microbiota.
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