Recent research highlights a significant connection between antibiotic use during pregnancy and an elevated risk of bacterial diseases in infants. A study published on January 9, 2026, by an international team from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Antwerp in Belgium, revealed that prenatal antibiotic exposure is associated with an increased risk of neonatal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease within four weeks of delivery. This risk was particularly pronounced with antibiotic exposure during the early third trimester, identifying it as a critical window of susceptibility for newborns. The findings are consistent with earlier Nordic studies that also indicated a higher risk of infections in early childhood following prenatal antibiotic exposure. GBS, while often harmless in adults, can lead to severe and life-threatening conditions like sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia in newborns. The research emphasizes that even antibiotics specifically targeting GBS, when administered close to delivery, did not reduce the risk of infection in newborns. Beyond GBS, broader scientific literature corroborates that maternal antibiotic treatment can influence the infant's gut microbiota composition, potentially leading to dysbiosis and affecting immune system maturation, which may increase susceptibility to various immune-related disorders and infections later in life. The article underscores the importance of limiting unnecessary antibiotic use during pregnancy and calls for increased vigilance in monitoring newborns who were exposed to antibiotics in utero, especially during the early third trimester. This is a global health concern with significant implications for prenatal care and public health in countries like India.