{"id":268,"date":"2019-03-26T13:49:59","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T13:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/fg\/?p=268"},"modified":"2019-03-26T13:49:59","modified_gmt":"2019-03-26T13:49:59","slug":"frontline-blog-antibiotics-and-probiotics-in-ibd-when-to-use-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/fg\/2019\/03\/26\/frontline-blog-antibiotics-and-probiotics-in-ibd-when-to-use-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Frontline blog: Antibiotics and probiotics in IBD: when to use them?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Original article by: Bincy Abraham and Eamonn M M Quigley<\/p>\n

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We have all been there haven\u2019t we? A patient with IBD, a crp that is through the roof with evidence of co-existing sepsis. To give steroids? To give antibiotics? I have been involved in many cases where antibiotics and steroids combined have been used in this situation to control disease. But is this best practice? What is the evidence behind this? Where exactly do antibiotics and even probiotics fit in with our treatment algorithms for IBD, if at all?<\/p>\n

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Probably the original mantra for using antibiotics in IBD was the thought that the aetiology had something to do with an infective nature. Through our further understanding of the diseases it has become much more widely accepted that probably it is the gut microbiota that in some way at least contribute to IBD. This has led many investigators to look into the altering the gut microbiota in an attempt to change the disease course in IBD. It is well documented that both antibiotics and probiotics can alter the gut microbiota and therefore this approach has been seen as a potential therapeutic option for IBD.<\/p>\n

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This review summarises really well the recommendations about the use of antibiotics in IBD. I think it lends itself to some really neat and useful messages.<\/p>\n

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For Crohn\u2019s disease they recommend:<\/p>\n

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