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Antibiotic not linked to autism

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  • Antibiotics and Resistance Genes: Influencing the Microbial Ecosystem in the Gut

    2007, Advances in Applied Microbiology
    Citation Excerpt :

    It was speculated that the extensive use of broad‐spectrum antibiotics, which do not discriminate between pathogenic and commensal bacteria, may disrupt the normal intestinal microbiota facilitating colonization of the intestine by toxin‐producing bacteria, like Clostridium tetani and C. perfringens, and that the toxins produced could affect the brain causing the symptoms of autism (Bolte, 1998; Manev and Manev, 2001). This hypothesis is emotive and to date still unsubstantiated, and much more research is required before any real conclusions can be drawn (Casavant, 2006). For example, the siblings of ASD sufferers also seem to be prescribed antibiotics more frequently than other children, yet do not go on to develop autism (Parracho et al., 2005), illustrating that other factors are almost certainly involved in the development of ASD, possibly including a genetic predisposition (Bailey et al., 1995; Steffenburg et al., 1989).

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