Treatment impact on the intestinal microbiota
PhD ceremony: Mr. R.F.J. Benus, 11.00 uur, Aula Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Dissertation: Treatment impact on the intestinal microbiota
Promotor(s): prof. T.S. van der Werf, prof. J.E. Degener
Faculty: Medical Sciences
This thesis describes the effects of antibiotics and tube feeding on our protective intestinal microbiota. Antibiotics are administered to patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) through Selective Digestive Decontamination (SDD) to prevent infections by harmful intestinal bacteria. It was found that suppressing bacteria in the mouth and throat only, i.e., Selective Oropharyngeal Decontamination (SOD), may be as helpful. SDD and SOD were effective in reducing mortality. It was shown that SDD, unlike SOD, severely suppresses certain groups of beneficial bacteria, especially F. prausnitzii. These bacteria produce butyrate which is essential for a healthy intestinal mucosa. ICU patients not only receive antibiotics but also tube feeding. The effects of enteral feeding with or without dietary fiber on the intestinal microbiota were studied. The addition of certain dietary fibers showed a significant effect on these healthy bacteria. Another mechanism that was studied is the suppression of butyrate-producing bacteria. F. prausnitzii appears to be susceptible to many antibiotics. During SDD, a group of bacteria in the gut, enterococci, increases. These are usually relatively harmless, although among patients in the UMCG serious enterococcal infections appear to occur regularly, as evidenced by an exploratory study in which only the bloodstream infections were considered. There was no noticeable effect of the SDD research on the incidence of these infections.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.09 a.m. |
More news
-
29 April 2024
Tactile sensors
Every two weeks, UG Makers puts the spotlight on a researcher who has created something tangible, ranging from homemade measuring equipment for academic research to small or larger products that can change our daily lives. That is how UG...
-
29 April 2024
Royal Decoration awarded to Gerard van den Berg
The Faculty of Economics and Business is very proud to announce that Professor Gerard van den Berg has been appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The decoration was presented to him by Mayor Koen Schuiling of the Municipality of...
-
18 April 2024
PET-scan expert Jan Pruim benoemd tot Officier in Orde van Oranje Nassau
Hoogleraar medische beeldvorming Jan Pruim is bij zijn afscheid van het UMCG benoemd tot Officier in de Orde van Oranje Nassau. De koninklijke versierselen werden hem op woensdag 17 april uitgereikt door burgemeester Koen Schuiling van de gemeente...