Large-scale health insurance study showed that antibiotic use in infancy was associated with an increase in atopic dermatitis

One recent retrospective large-scale study examined the association between prescribing antibiotics for infants and subsequent atopic dermatitis (AD) by utilizing the data extracted from a Japanese health insurance claims database. The exposure group received antibiotics at less than 12 months of age and was then evaluated for the diagnosis of AD as the outcome. Analysis was performed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis and sibling-matched analysis. 

The results obtained were as-

• The study included 85954 infants with 8654 (10.1%) receiving antibiotics and 77300 did not. 
• AD was diagnosed in 13.7% and 13.4% of infants respectively. 
• The occurrence of AD was more likely in the exposed group than the non-exposed group, however, this association faded following the secondary, sibling-matched analysis of the two groups. 
• Macrolides, aminoglycosides, food allergies and histamine H1 receptor antagonists were described as the other risk factors for AD.

Thus it was inferred as antibiotic use in infancy causes a subsequent increase in the incidence of AD. Thus this association should be kept in mind while prescribing antibiotics, however, its use may not be a critical factor for the development of AD.

Source: Tsuchida T, Yoshida S, Takeuchi M, Kawakami K. Large-scale health insurance study showed that antibiotic use in infancy was associated with an increase in atopic dermatitis. Acta Paediatr. 2022;111(3):607-613. doi: 10.1111/apa.16221. Epub 2021 Dec 27. PMID: 34919283.