Antibiotics May Negatively Impact Health of Premature Infants

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Source: Science Magazine

A standard preventative practice that is applied to many premature babies could cause negative side effects.

Antibiotics are typically prescribed after a child is prematurely born in order to prevent potentially life threatening infections.

However, due to the vulnerability of their smallest patients, doctors often continue administrating treatments despite evidence of infection.

As a result, immune symptoms and health issues, such as asthma and obesity, are more likely to impact children who were born before term.

“We are working to change our perception… to fight the belief that antibiotics are always the safe thing to do,” said Rachel Greenberg, a neonatologist at Duke University Medical Center.

Read Full Story: Science Magazine 

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