Objective:

To investigate the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in newborns within the first hours of life.

Key Findings:

• Most infants carried multiple resistance genes, with a median of eight detected per sample.
• Common genes were associated with resistance to widely used antibiotics and last-line treatments like carbapenems.
• Maternal hospitalization and early medical interventions were linked to higher numbers of resistance genes.

Interpretation:

The neonatal gut may contain a range of resistance genes at birth, indicating early exposure to resistant bacteria.

Limitations:

• The study does not confirm active infections in infants despite the presence of resistance genes.
• Further research is needed to understand the implications of these findings on clinical outcomes.

Conclusion:

Exposure to antibiotic resistance can begin very early in life, highlighting the need for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship in neonatal care.