C DIFF MENUBARE
Antibiotic associated C. Difficile / C Diff Infection - Treatment - Probiotics
Probiotics effective at shortening duration of intestinal
C. difficile
infection
Inhibition of
Clostridium difficile strains by intestinal Lactobacillus species
and bifidibacterium species (both lactic acid bacteria) or
Saccharomyces species (yeast) (E.g. S. boulardii
(Florastor®)) has been clinically shown to shorten the duration of diarrhea.
How do probiotics work against C. Difficile
(and other pathogens)?
• Antagonistic/Competitive towards pathogenic
bacteria
• Stimulate
immune mechanisms of intestinal mucosa
Probiotic Supplements
Take a dose of the highest quality supplemental probiotic
you can find - it is generally agreed that:
(1)
A significant number of microorganisms must be consumed in order to alter the bacterial
population in the gut
(2)
Several different species of bacteria given simultaneously are preferable to using
just one species.
- Be aware that many products:
(i) Contain
way too few CFU to amount to a "hill of beans"
(ii) Contain
less live microorganisms than claimed on their label
(iii) Contain
significantly less live microorganisms than on their production date
-
Some notable probiotic supplement choices to fight C. difficile:
•
VSL # 3® - contains 450 billion live bacteria per dose;
•
Dr. Mercola®Complete Probiotics -high production quality,
70 billion CFU / dose, 10 strains lactobacillus and
bifidobacterium. Cost ~$1/dose;
•
Culturelle®( LGG) -
10 billion rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) + 245g of prebiotic inulin / capsule dose;
Vitacost.com Cost ~0.75 / dose. Good survival rate in stomach/bile
acid.
•
Florastor ®
-sometimes recommended by doctors, but only contains 5
billion Saccharomyces boulardii ; Cost ~0.75 / dose.
Some complain of stomach rumblings.
Ensure probiotic supplement is taken
at least 2 hours away from taking antibiotics (E.g. Flagyl or Vancocin).
Otherwise the antibiotics will destroy too many of the probiotic bacteria;
For more detail on probiotics, see:
C. difficile:
Antibiotic / Probiotic Therapy Dosages againstC. Difficile Infection
Food sources of probiotics
Kefir. This probiotic
liquid contains almost 20 strains of lactobacilli and is used against C. Diff
Dosage.
1/2 cup of kefir four times the first
day, then 1/4 cup four times a day for about a week. Can make kefir at home or buy
ready-to-eat in a grocery store (in the yogurt section) in plain or flavored. Diluting
it with water or juice helps it down.
- By Johan S. Bakken, M. D. , Ph.
D. Abstract
"Eight patients, each of whom experienced recurrent episodes of
Clostridium difficile -associated diarrhea, were treated with
staggered and tapered oral metronidazole or vancomycin combined with
daily intake of kefir, an over-the-counter liquid probiotic dairy product.
All eight successfully resolved their infection and did not experience
any further diarrhea after completion of treatment. Further studies
will be needed to determine whether gradual antibiotic withdrawal combined
with kefir is a valuable treatment for recurrent C. Difficile -associated
diarrhea."
Yogurt with active cultures.
E.g. Stoneyfield, Dannon. Avoid sweetened
yogurt, since sugar is food for pathogenic bacteria.
"Cultured cabbage" or "Kimchi"
(one recipe includes chinese cabbage, green onions and
ginger root)
Prebiotics (food
for probiotics). Research suggests that prebiotics, such
asfructooligosaccharides (FOS), may have a role in prevention and treatment of
C. difficile infections by helping to restore normal indigenous microflora.
-
These naturally occurring, non-digestible food components are fermented in
the colon, having these benefits:
• Selectively
utilized by beneficial/probiotic bacteria already in the colon to promote their
growth and colonization -
thereby having a role in preventing/treating
C. difficile infections;
• Normalize
bowel function -
may be used to manage diarrhea and constipation
We set out to determine if the prebiotic oligofructose
Patients taking oligofructose were less likely to develop further
diarrhea than those taking the placebo.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005. Department
of Medicine, DerrifordHospital, Plymouth, UK
-Fructooligosaccharides
(FOS) are the major class of prebiotics. Found in
chicory, garlic, onion, wheat, rye, bananas, leeks,
tomatoes and honey
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