Antimicrobial exposure and risk of depression

Recent research findings have provided increasing evidence of a “gut-brain axis” that facilitates “communication” between the gut microbiome and the brain. For example, studies have suggested differences in gut flora composition and fecal microbiota in patients with major depressive disorder when compared with healthy controls (Cryan et al., 2019). Despite the increasing volume of data, and the well-known fact that antibiotics disrupt healthy gut flora, few studies have addressed the potential modulating effect of antibiotic exposure on mental health, including depressive illness.