The impact of caesarean section surgery on the neonatal gut microbiome

Abstract

Aim of the study. Review the literature on the impact of caesarean section and perioperative antibiotic
prophylaxis before caesarean section on neonatal gut microbiota and methods of microbiota restoration. Methods. A scientific literature search was performed using PubMed. Forty-two sources were reviewed; 17 were analyzed in depth (publishing dates: 2020–2025), while 25 provided context. Results. Caesarean section may decrease beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides, and increase the number of opportunistic bacteria in the neonate’s gut microbiota. Antibiotics administered prophylactically before caesarean section reduce the diversity and/or composition of the neonatal microbiota. Prophylactic antibiotics further disrupt microbiota composition and diversity. Restoration strategies include breastfeeding and probiotic supplementation. Vaginal seeding – exposing newborns to maternal vaginal fluids – shows potential benefits, though more research is needed.