Sultan AA, Mallen C, Muller S, et al. - Using data from the primary care Clinical Practice Research Datalink, researchers carried out a nested case-control study to ascertain if antibiotic use is correlated with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To examine previous antibiotic prescriptions and RA onset after controlling for confounding factors, conditional logistic regression was used. According to results, 22,677 cases of RA were identified, matched to 90,013 controls, with a median follow-up of 10 years before RA diagnosis. In those exposed to antibiotics, the chances of developing RA were 60% greater than in those not exposed. In addition, antifungal and antiviral prescriptions were linked to increased probabilities of RA. Between the number of previous antibiotic prescriptions and RA, a dose- or frequency-dependent connection was noted. Findings suggested an association of antibiotic prescriptions with a higher risk of RA. This can be due to disturbances of microbiota or underlying infections driving risk.