Impact of prophylactic antibiotics on gut microbiome and resistome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A prospective observational study evaluating the impact of prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotics with and without anti-anaerobic cover on the gut microbiome and resistome in patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgery.
IRAS ID
354821
Contact name
Luke Moore
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 26 days
Research summary
Our gut contains trillions of bacteria, that live in a complex balance and play an important role in keeping us healthy. This study looks at how antibiotics, which are medicines that treat or stop infections, can change the bacteria in your gut. While antibiotics are important, they can sometimes kill the helpful bacteria and let harmful ones grow. This can make it easier to get infections. Some of these harmful bacteria may become harder to treat with antibiotics in the future, this is called antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
People having bowel or stomach surgery are usually given antibiotics before their operation as part of routine NHS care. In this study, we are looking at patients having planned (elective) gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. Some patients are given one antibiotic (called cefuroxime), and others get two (cefuroxime and another called metronidazole). We want to see if using two antibiotics instead of one causes more changes in the gut bacteria and raises the chance of carrying resistant bacteria
To find out, we will ask patients to give us small stool (poo) samples before their surgery, one to two weeks after, and again 30 days later. These samples will help us see how their gut bacteria change. We will not change the treatment patients get, and we will only collect samples and information if the patient agrees.
This research will help doctors choose antibiotics that protect both the patient and their gut bacteria, and help stop the spread of resistance.
The study is being run by Imperial College London and Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust, with support from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). It will take place in NHS hospitals.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
26/WS/0057
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion