{"id":2381,"date":"2026-06-08T18:26:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T18:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/?p=2381"},"modified":"2026-06-08T18:26:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T18:26:25","slug":"kak-antibioticzite-uvrezhdat-mikrobioma-skritata-czena-na-lechenieto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/kak-antibioticzite-uvrezhdat-mikrobioma-skritata-czena-na-lechenieto\/","title":{"rendered":"How antibiotics damage the microbiome \u2013 the hidden cost of treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antibiotics are one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine. Thanks to them, millions of lives have been saved from bacterial infections that were once life-threatening. But alongside their undeniable benefits, antibiotics can have a significant impact on <strong>the gut microbiome<\/strong> \u2013 the complex ecosystem of microorganisms that plays a key role in our health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A growing body of scientific research suggests that antibiotics do not merely destroy the pathogens causing the infection, but often also affect a large proportion of the beneficial bacteria in the gut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the gut microbiome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gut microbiome is a collection of trillions of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that live in the digestive system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These microorganisms are involved in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the breakdown of food;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the production of essential vitamins;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>supporting the immune system;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>protection against pathogenic bacteria;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>control of inflammatory processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the balance between beneficial and harmful microorganisms is disrupted, a condition known as <strong>dysbiosis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How antibiotics affect the microbiome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria, but most of them cannot distinguish between \u201egood\u201c and \u201ebad\u201c bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result, the treatment may lead to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a reduction in beneficial bacteria;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reduced microbial diversity;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>excessive growth of undesirable microorganisms;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>changes in the metabolic activity of the gut.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even a short course of antibiotics can temporarily alter the composition of the microbiome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What symptoms might occur?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a course of antibiotics, some people experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bloating and wind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An imbalance in gut bacteria can lead to increased fermentation of food and a feeling of bloating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diarrhoea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea is one of the most common complications of antibiotic treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Constipation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some patients experience delayed bowel function and changes in bowel movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food sensitivities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may experience some temporary difficulties when preparing certain foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The link between antibiotics and Clostridioides difficile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most serious consequences of disrupting the microbiome is the development of an infection with <em>Clostridioides difficile<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the levels of beneficial bacteria are significantly reduced, this bacterium can begin to multiply uncontrollably and cause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>severe diarrhoea;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>inflammation of the large intestine;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>long-term digestive problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is precisely one of the reasons why scientists are paying increasing attention to the restoration of the microbiome following antibiotic treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take for the microbiome to recover?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recovery is individual and depends on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the type of antibiotic;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the duration of treatment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>age;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>eating habits;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>overall health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some people, the microbiome recovers within weeks, whilst in others the changes may persist for months or even years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to support the restoration of the gut microbiome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A high-fibre diet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fibre acts as food for beneficial bacteria and helps them to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good sources include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>vegetables;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fruit;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>legumes;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whole grain foods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fermented foods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If well tolerated, the following may be helpful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>yoghurt;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>kefir;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fermented vegetables.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Enough sleep and exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lifestyle also affects the recovery of the microbiome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A personalised medical approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patients with severe dysbiosis or recurrent infections may require further assessment and a personalised approach to restoring microbial balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should we avoid antibiotics?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Antibiotics remain vital in the treatment of many bacterial infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it is important to note that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>to be used only when necessary;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>to be taken on medical advice;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>do not stop treatment without consulting your doctor;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>attention should be paid to the restoration of the microbiome following treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prudent use of antibiotics is key both to individual health and to curbing antibiotic resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antibiotics are an indispensable tool in medicine, but they can have a significant impact on the gut microbiome. Understanding these changes and taking steps to restore beneficial bacteria can help speed up recovery and improve long-term health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maintaining a healthy microbiome is an important part of looking after your body \u2013 especially after a course of antibiotics.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0410\u043d\u0442\u0438\u0431\u0438\u043e\u0442\u0438\u0446\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0441\u0430 \u0435\u0434\u043d\u043e \u043e\u0442 \u043d\u0430\u0439-\u0433\u043e\u043b\u0435\u043c\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u044a\u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0430 \u043c\u0435\u0434\u0438\u0446\u0438\u043d\u0430. \u0411\u043b\u0430\u0433\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u043d\u0430 \u0442\u044f\u0445 \u043c\u0438\u043b\u0438\u043e\u043d\u0438 \u0436\u0438\u0432\u043e\u0442\u0438 \u0441\u0430 \u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0435\u043d\u0438 \u043e\u0442 \u0431\u0430\u043a\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0430\u043b\u043d\u0438 \u0438\u043d\u0444\u0435\u043a\u0446\u0438\u0438, \u043a\u043e\u0438\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0438 \u0441\u0430 \u0431\u0438\u043b\u0438 \u0436\u0438\u0432\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0437\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0448\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0449\u0438. \u041d\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0440\u0435\u0434 \u0441 \u0431\u0435\u0437\u0441\u043f\u043e\u0440\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0441\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0437\u0438, \u0430\u043d\u0442\u0438\u0431\u0438\u043e\u0442\u0438\u0446\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u0433\u0430\u0442 \u0434\u0430 \u043e\u043a\u0430\u0436\u0430\u0442 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u043d\u043e \u0432\u043b\u0438\u044f\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0432\u044a\u0440\u0445\u0443 \u0447\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043d\u0438\u044f \u043c\u0438\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0438\u043e\u043c &#8211; \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0436\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0430 \u0435\u043a\u043e\u0441\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043c\u0430 \u043e\u0442 \u043c\u0438\u043a\u0440\u043e\u043e\u0440\u0433\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0437\u043c\u0438, \u043a\u043e\u044f\u0442\u043e \u0438\u0433\u0440\u0430\u0435 \u043a\u043b\u044e\u0447\u043e\u0432\u0430 \u0440\u043e\u043b\u044f \u0437\u0430 \u043d\u0430\u0448\u0435\u0442\u043e \u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0435. \u0412\u0441\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0447\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u043d\u0438 \u0438\u0437\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"\u041a\u0430\u043a \u0430\u043d\u0442\u0438\u0431\u0438\u043e\u0442\u0438\u0446\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0443\u0432\u0440\u0435\u0436\u0434\u0430\u0442 \u043c\u0438\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0438\u043e\u043c\u0430 - \u0441\u043a\u0440\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0430 \u0446\u0435\u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u043b\u0435\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435\u0442\u043e","_seopress_titles_desc":"\u041d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u0435\u0442\u0435 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0430\u043d\u0442\u0438\u0431\u0438\u043e\u0442\u0438\u0446\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0432\u043b\u0438\u044f\u044f\u0442 \u043d\u0430 \u0447\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043d\u0438\u044f \u043c\u0438\u043a\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0438\u043e\u043c, \u043a\u0430\u043a\u0432\u0438 \u043c\u043e\u0433\u0430\u0442 \u0434\u0430 \u0431\u044a\u0434\u0430\u0442 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u044f\u0442\u0430 \u0438 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0434\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0433\u043d\u0435\u0442\u0435 \u0432\u044a\u0437\u0441\u0442\u0430\u043d\u043e\u0432\u044f\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0437\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0431\u0430\u043a\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0438.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chrevno-zdrave-i-mikrobiom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimed.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}