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Chlorinated drinking water exposure enriches antimicrobial resistance pathways in the infant gut microbiome: a randomized trial

Water chlorination is essential for controlling harmful microbes in drinking water; however, the antimicrobial effects of chlorine-based disinfectants present in tap water may influence early-life gut microbial ecology.

Citation:
Parkin K, Christophersen CT, Verhasselt V, Palmer DJ, Cooper MN, Prescott SL, Silva D, Martino D. Chlorinated drinking water exposure enriches antimicrobial resistance pathways in the infant gut microbiome: a randomized trial. Commun Med. 2026;6(1).

Keywords:
Chlorinated drinking water; gut microbiome; infants; microbes; ecology; sequencing

Abstract:
Water chlorination is essential for controlling harmful microbes in drinking water; however, the antimicrobial effects of chlorine-based disinfectants present in tap water may influence early-life gut microbial ecology.