Science, faith and belief in pediatric animal models.

Abstract

Antibiotic treatment may affect gut microbiota development with adverse effects on immune responses in the gut and other internal organs, like the lung. Animal models help to uncover mechanisms and consequences of antibiotic treatment, but direct translation of animal results to infants and children is often difficult. Objective scientific knowledge from both animal and human studies may need to be combined with more subjective faith convictions, to reach the commonly agreed beliefs that inform clinical practice.