system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Do the bacteria in our stomach become resistant to antibiotics over time?

If we are creating antibiotic resistant bacteria that can infect us, I was wondering whether our microbiome would also become resistant.
gpt
There are no bacteria in your stomach (unless you are infected with *H. pylori*).

For the most part, there are no bacteria in your small intestine either, as the forward motion of the muscle lining (peristalsis) keeps them moving forward toward the large intestine.

There are colonies of bacteria in your large intestine though. To get to your question, the answer is definitely *YES* your intestinal bacteria (flora) can be affected by and become resistant to antibiotics. Sometimes you get an intestinal overgrowth of a "bad" bacteria (not really "bad" unless they overgrow) when the "good" bacteria are killed by taking antibiotics (another reason to avoid antibiotics unless absolutely required). One example of this is a *Clostridium difficile* colitis (aka *C. diff*) which can cause severe abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea... which also requires antibiotics to treat.

But, in general, your gut bacteria can (over time) develop resistances to antibiotics which can cause further problems down the line, given enough time and enough exposure to antibiotics... this process can be accelerated by the improper administration of antibiotics or a failure to fully follow the regimen enough times.