Gut feeling.Perhaps in addition to using a friendly strain of Clostridium difficile Clostridium difficile A common cause of bacterial colitis; it is the causative agent in 99% of pseudomembranous colitis, and 20-30% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea to crowd out the disease-causing variety in the gut ("Flora Horror: Hospitals struggle with a serious new gut microbe microbe /mi·crobe/ (mi´krob) a microorganism, especially a pathogenic one such as a bacterium, protozoan, or fungus.micro´bialmicro´bic mi·crobe n. ," SN: 2/18/06, p. 104), other species of benign bacteria could be reintroduced at the same time. This might be done inexpensively using "probiotic pro·bi·ot·ic n. A dietary supplement containing live bacteria or yeast that supplements normal gastrointestinal flora, given especially after depletion of flora caused by infection or ingestion of an antibiotic drug. " bacterial cultures already being sold by some health food companies. MICHAEL DUNPHY, NAPERVILLE, ILL. Researchers have tested benign bacteria against C. difficile, with some reported success (SN: 2/2/02, p. 72). But a review last year concluded that there isn't sufficient evidence for the routine use of probiotics Probiotics Bacteria that are beneficial to a person's health, either through protecting the body against pathogenic bacteria or assisting in recovery from an illness. Mentioned in: Colonic Irrigation, Dysentery, Gastroenteritis to prevent or treat C. difficile infections. |
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