Research published in the journals Gut Microbes and Science Advances suggests that antibiotics may damage the mucosal barrier through two different mechanisms.
First, antibiotics disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to long-term changes in the composition of bacteria that affect the functionality of the mucus layer. Researchers have observed that people with a history of frequent antibiotic use have changes in their gut bacteria, even years after their last treatment.
Second, antibiotics can directly disrupt the mucosal barrier, independent of intestinal bacteria. Experiments with the antibiotic vancomycin showed an immediate disruption of mucus expansion in normal, bacteria-free mice, suggesting a direct effect on the mucosal layer.
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Source: Ferra
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