Perinatal antibiotic exposure during delivery is associated with altered sleep behavior in infants at 2 and 6 months of age.
In a prospective birth cohort study of 192 infants, indirect antibiotic exposure during delivery was associated with a higher daytime-to-nighttime sleep ratio and fewer nighttime awakenings at 2 and 6 months. Effect sizes were small to moderate, suggesting subtle alterations in sleep behavior rather than overt sleep disturbance.
Evidence Score
Study Evidence
Study 1. Perinatal antibiotic exposure and infant sleep behavior: findings from the ABERRANT study.
observationalMarkovic A, Kurth S, Zimmermann P · Pediatric research (2026)
Result:
Mechanism Graph
Limitations
- ⚠Parent-reported sleep outcomes may be subject to recall bias
- ⚠Observational study design cannot establish causality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main finding of the ABERRANT study?▼
The study found that indirect antibiotic exposure during delivery is associated with subtle differences in infant sleep behavior, specifically a higher daytime-to-nighttime sleep ratio and fewer nighttime awakenings at 2 and 6 months.
How many infants were included in this study?▼
The study included 192 infants, of which 46% were female.
What type of study was the ABERRANT study?▼
It was a prospective birth cohort study using linear mixed-effects models to analyze associations.
Were the observed sleep changes considered clinically significant?▼
No, the effect sizes were small to moderate, indicating subtle alterations rather than overt sleep disturbance.
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References
- 1.Markovic A, Kurth S, Zimmermann P. "Perinatal antibiotic exposure and infant sleep behavior: findings from the ABERRANT study.." Pediatric research, 2026. PMID: 42380320 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-026-05267-y