Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked A-ABX-10 standard review
Long-term microbiome effects of antibiotics
Short-term antibiotic treatment has differing long-term impacts on the human throat and gut microbiome.
Overview
Jakobsson HE et al.. PLoS One 2010 · PMID 20352091 · DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0009836
Changes and resistance genes persisted in some people up to 4 years.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Long-term effects.
- How was the study done?
Sequencing.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Small group.
- What was actually found?
Persistent changes.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Use antibiotics carefully.
- What are the study's limitations?
Small.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Disease.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Jakobsson HE, Jernberg C, Andersson AF, Sjölund-Karlsson M, Jansson JK, Engstrand L
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2010
- Identifier
- PMID 20352091 DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0009836 · PMC2844414
- Verification
- verified – PubMed E-utilities efetch, 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract/record
2. Research question
Long-term impact on throat and gut microbiome
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Cohort study – Longitudinal sequencing after H. pylori therapy (clarithromycin+metronidazole) over 4 years
- Population
Adults treated vs untreated controls
- Country
Sweden
- Period
4 years
- Sample size
not stated in abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Clarithromycin+metronidazole
- Comparator
Untreated controls
- Endpoints
Microbiota; erm(B)
5. Actual results
- Results
Dramatic shifts 1 week after; diversity recovered but some perturbed up to 4 years; high erm(B) at 4 years.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Resistance persists longer than recognised; restrictive use important.
6. Strengths
- Long follow-up
7. Weaknesses
- Small
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
10. Relevance to the specific claim
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
High.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Supports persistence.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | low |
| Directness | indirect |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
15. Linked fact checks
- Antibiotic courses profoundly disrupt the gut microbiome; recovery can be incomplete, with changes lasting months to years. – Studies supporting the claim
Use by the Tayebat archive
Note: according to the archive, the studies were compiled by the archive operators. Whether Dr. Elawady himself cited this study is not established.
- What the archive says about the study
Narrative: some antibiotics leave a fingerprint up to four years.
- A. What was actually studied?
Microbiome after therapy.
- B. What did the authors find?
Some perturbation up to 4 years.
- C. What conclusions do the authors themselves draw?
Restrictive use.
- D. What does the archive derive from it?
Supports long-term effect.
- E. Is this derivation scientifically justified?
Justified (narrative lists clarithromycin among them; this study tested clarithromycin+metronidazole).
- Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)
- not applicable