Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41865193›Full record

SynthesisPediatric research2026

The role of breastfeeding in modulating antimicrobial resistance in neonates: a systematic review.

Darin Mansor Mathkor, Abdullah F Aldairi, Hani Faidah, Ahmad O Babalghith, Ayman K Johargy, Faraz Ahmad, Shafiul Haque, Farkad Bantun

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pediatric research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Darin Mansor Mathkor *Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah F Aldairi *Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Hani FaidahDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad O BabalghithDepartment of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Ayman K JohargyDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Faraz AhmadDepartment of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India.
Shafiul HaqueDepartment of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. shafiul.haque@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2989-121X
Farkad BantunDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing health concern in neonates. Breastfeeding potentially plays a pivotal role in modulating neonatal gut microbiota, thereby influencing the acquisition and transmission of AMR genes (ARGs). This systematic review evaluates the links between breastfeeding and the origin of neonatal gut microbiota and AMR. Selection of pertinent studies published between 2015 and 2025 focusing on major outcome measures of neonatal AMR and ARG transfer was performed on scholarly databases. Following quality assessment, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria for further consideration. Evidence consistently demonstrates that breast milk is an active contributor to the microbial and genetic landscape of the neonatal gut microbiome. Further, studies implicated breast milk as a source of ARG transfer in neonates. Other reports indicated that exclusive breastfeeding and human milk-associated bioactive compounds promoted the colonization of beneficial commensals, limited colonization of multidrug-resistant species, and suppressed horizontal transfer of ARGs. Interestingly, maternal factors, such as maternal antibiotic history, lifestyle, and overall health status, appeared to influence the links between breast milk and transmission and impact of ARGs in neonates. In conclusion, while breastfeeding-based strategies are important to neonatal AMR mitigation, further mechanistic studies are required to establish causal pathways. IMPACT: Breastfeeding has an active role in altering neonatal gut microbiota and influences antimicrobial resistance (AMR) acquisition. This review synthesizes evidence from 2015-2025 indicating that breastfeeding is both a source of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and contains bioactive components that suppress ARG transmission and promote beneficial colonization. Maternal factors, such as antibiotic exposure, lifestyle, and overall health, potently influence these links. Mechanistic comprehension of the links between breastfeeding, neonatal microbiome, and AMR acquisition may allow identification of prevention strategies against neonatal infections. The analyses underscore the need for longitudinal, mechanistic studies to determine causal relationships and long-term effects of breastfeeding on neonatal AMR.

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.