# The microbiome in mind: Reflections on antibiotic prescription in primary care

**Authors:** Nicolas D B. Roos

PMC · DOI: 10.4102/safp.v67i1.6238 · South African Family Practice · 2025-12-19

## TL;DR

This opinion piece questions whether antibiotic prescriptions in primary care, especially for children, may be harming the microbiome and overall health.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a critical reflection on antibiotic stewardship practices through the lens of microbiome health.

## Key findings

- The author questions if current antibiotic prescriptions may cause more harm than good.
- The microbiome's role in health and disease is highlighted as a key concern in antibiotic use.

## Abstract

In this opinion piece, the author critically reflects on his own antimicrobial stewardship practices in primary care and the complex factors influencing antibiotic prescription, specifically in children.

In light of emerging evidence of the role of the microbiome in both health and disease, this piece raises a key question: Are we doing more harm than good?

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** bacterial (MESH:D001424), nasopharyngitis (MESH:D009304), tonsilitis (MESH:D014069), conjunctivitis (MESH:D003231), pharyngitis (MESH:D010612), death (MESH:D003643), infections (MESH:D007239), cough (MESH:D003371), common cold (MESH:D003139), obesity (MESH:D009765), lymphadenopathy (MESH:D008206), atopy (MESH:C564133), fevers (MESH:D005334), autoimmune and cardiometabolic pathologies (MESH:D024821), respiratory tract infections (MESH:D012141), sinusitis (MESH:D012852), dysbiosis (MESH:D064806), diabetes (MESH:D003920)
- **Chemicals:** Streptococcal antigen (-), paracetamol (MESH:D000082)
- **Species:** gut metagenome (species) [taxon 749906], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12817034/full.md

## References

27 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12817034/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12817034