Antibiotics damage the intestinal flora

Study: Antibiotics Remedies harm the intestinal flora in humans.

(24.09.2010) Antibiotics damage the intestinal flora, which has been known for some time and has already been scientifically proven. However, the extent has been rated far less so far. Scientists have now found from a study that already relatively compatible antibiotic drugs can damage all important bacterial colonies.

Antibiotics should help patients with infections to recover and destroy harmful bacteria. However, vital bacteria in the intestinal flora are destroyed at the same time. A healthy intestinal flora is extremely important to the human immune system. If the immune system is severely disturbed, more severe infections can be the result.

The intestine is one of the most important but neglected organs of the human organism. The organ is not only responsible for the use of food, but also plays a major role in the immune system. More than half of the vital immune cells are in the gut. In the intestinal flora over 100 trillion bacteria are settled. The predominant part lives anaerobically, ie without oxygen, e.g. Lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, bacteria of the genus Bacteroides, as well as enterococci and E. coli germs. The intestinal mucosa in turn feeds these beneficial bacteria. Very important are the so-called lactic acid bacteria. This bacterial genus fights pathogens and thus keeps the intestinal flora in balance. However, repeated use of antibiotic drugs damages the intestinal flora to a far greater extent than previously thought.

A US study of Stanford University has now found that already two consecutive timely revenue of actually considered compatible antibiotic drugs the intestinal bacteria in the digestive tract lasting damage for several months. Thus, in this phase there is an increased risk of infection with other infections, which in turn are treated with antibiotics. This can lead to a serious cycle, especially since many doctors prescribe antibiotics far too often and almost superfluously.

In the gut of a healthy person, around 1,000 different types of microbes are found in bacteria. In a previously held study, the researchers led by David Relman of Stanford University had observed that the intestinal flora recovered relatively quickly after taking antibiotics in a few weeks. But if the preparations are taken again within a short time, the regeneration of the intestine is much more difficult.

The study examined numerous stool samples from a total of three women. Within a period of ten months, the subjects took the antibiotic ciproflaxin, which was considered to be well tolerated, twice for 5 days each time. In the first trial run it was observed that the populations of about one-third to half of the intestinal bacteria disappear, while microbes flourished. After about a week, the intestinal flora in two women was back to normal. However, it was observed in the third study participant that bacterial colonization of the intestine was still severely altered six months later.

In the second round of study, after all three subjects took antibiotics again, the scientists found that the changes lead to a lasting change in the intestinal flora of at least two months. This is also the conclusion of the scientists: "Repeated use of antibiotics seems to have an increasing effect
our internal microbial ecosystems, with potentially harmful consequences. "(sb)

Also read:
Intestinal dysbiosis: Bacteria against bacteria
Alternatives to antibiotics from naturopathy
Doctors often prescribe unnecessary antibiotics