Final answer:
Prolonged antibiotic use can lead to superinfection in the large intestine, commonly causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea due to the overgrowth of Clostridium difficile. This is a significant issue that highlights the problems associated with the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which can select for resistant bacterial strains.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prolonged use of antibiotics can kill bacteria residing in the large intestine resulting in superinfection such as an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile, leading to severe gastric problems in all age groups. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is one of the specific symptoms caused by this bacterium. Clostridium difficile is resistant to many antibiotics and can overgrow when normal gut flora is diminished due to antibiotic use, increasing the risk of severe digestive issues like chronic diarrhea. It has been reported that fecal transplants from healthy donors can reestablish normal microbial communities defeated by antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Clostridium difficile. This is significant in understanding the implications of indiscriminate antibiotic use and its impact on the growth of resistant bacteria like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).