The article below appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine’s MEDICINE WATCH two days ago. A big thank you to David Miller, MD, for bringing it to my attention today. MEDICAL NEWS | PHYSICIAN’S FIRST WATCH November 15, 2015 Certain Antibiotics Could Affect Gut Microbiome for 1 Year By Kelly Young Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH Gut microbial diversity may be diminished for up to a year following oral antibiotic use, suggests a small, industry-conducted study published in mBio. Sixty-six healthy participants in the U.K. and Sweden were randomized to receive placebo or an antibiotic (clindamycin, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, or minocycline). They provided saliva and fecal samples before and after receiving antibiotics. Over the long term, the salivary microbiome was largely undisturbed by antibiotic administration. Meanwhile, microbiome diversity in fecal samples was reduced for up to 4 months in patients receiving clindamycin and up to 12 months in those receiving ciprofloxacin. Specifically, bacteria that produce the short-chain fatty acid butyrate — which is linked to lower inflammation, carcinogenesis, and oxidative stress in the gut — were significantly reduced. In addition, genetic testing found more genes associated with antibiotic resistance in the fecal samples. The authors conclude: “Clearly, even a single antibiotic treatment in healthy individuals contributes to the risk of resistance development and leads to long-lasting detrimental shifts in the gut microbiome.” LINK(S): mBio article (Free) Background: NEJM Journal Watch Infectious Diseases coverage of gut E. coli resistance patterns and antibiotics (Your NEJM Journal Watch registration required) REFERENCES
Young, K. (11/15/2015). Certain antibiotics could affect gut microbiome for 1 year. New England Journal of Medicine – MEDICINE WATCH. See: http://www.jwatch.org/fw110857/2015/11/15/certain-antibiotics-could-affect-gut-microbiome-1-year © Copyright 2015 Joan Rothchild Hardin. All Rights Reserved.
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