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Free Content Effects of antibiotic therapy on the gastrointestinal microbiota and the influence of Lactobacillus casei

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Authors: Pirker 1 ; Stockenhuber 2 ; Remely 1 ; Harrant 1 ; Hippe 1 ; Kamhuber 2 ; Adelmann 2 ; Stockenhuber 2 ; Haslberger 1 ; 

Source: Food and Agricultural Immunology, Volume 24, Number 3, 1 September 2013, pp. 315-330(16)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540105.2012.689816

Aims of methods

Effects of intervention with Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) on the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and changes in faecal microbiota were analysed using C. difficile ELISA (678 patients), qPCR using 16S rRNA group-specific primers, C. difficile-toxin kit and polymerase chain reaction/denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (56 patients).ResultsResults

As much as 18.5% of antibiotic treated group developed AAD, but only 5% of patients treated with antibiotics and LcS. Following antibiotic therapy, a decrease in the abundance of total Bacteria, Clostridium cluster IV and XI, Bifidobacterium spp. and butyryl-CoA CoA transferase genes was observed, whereas Enterobacteriaceae increased. LcS intervention reduced the antibiotic-associated decrease in the diversity of microbiota, increased the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. and reduced the antibiotic-induced decrease of Bifidobacterium spp.Conclusions

Antibiotic treatment affects the diversity and the composition of the microbiota impairing butyrate production. Intervention with certain Lactobacillus strains may antagonise some of these changes, and more potent short-chain fatty acid-stimulating probiotics are desirable for intervention in AAD.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile infection; Lactobacillus casei; antibiotic-associated diarrhoea; antibiotics; bacterial; gastrointestinal microbiota

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Department for Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2: Krankenhaus Oberpullendorf, Vienna, Austria

Publication date: 01 September 2013

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