Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common complication of antibiotic use. It occurs more frequently with antibiotics such as ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulate, cefixime and clindamycin.
There are at least two forms of diarrhea related to antibiotic use. They both occur due to the destruction of the beneficial bacteria that reside in the intestines:
- Osmotic diarrhea is the milder form. In normal digestive function, intestinal bacteria aid in the breakdown of the nondigestible carbohydrates in the diet, like the fiber in whole grains and in fruits and vegetables. As they are absorbed, so is the fluid in the colon which results in formed stools. This process is interrupted, unfortunately, when good bacteria are destroyed by an antibiotic.
- Clostridia Difficile is the other, more serious form of AAD. This bacterium produces toxins that cause inflammation of the colon resulting in a spectrum of symptoms from mild diarrhea to severe diarrhea with associated fever, abdominal pain and dehydration. The Clostridia difficile bacteria can be found in 2-3% of healthy individuals. The beneficial bacteria that reside in the colon prevent the clostridia bacteria from proliferating. But, when antibiotics are taken the good bacteria are killed and the Clostridia bacteria are no longer suppressed.
This form of diarrhea has become a serious problem for hospitalized patients, especially those receiving antibiotics. It is very important for patients to tell their doctor if they develop diarrhea in the hospital or after they go home.
There are a number of clinical trials using probiotics to both prevent and to treat AAD. The mixture of bacterial strains in Endomune can help maintain the healthy bacteria during antibiotic usage.
Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea Results from EndoMune.com
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Risk of C. Difficile due to Acid Suppression Therapy (June 2010)
... (C. difficile). C. difficile causes a severe diarrhea and life threatening colitis. Roughly 3-5% of the healthy adult ... a C. difficile infection, especially if PPIs and/or antibiotics are prescribed. ...
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Probiotics and Clostridium Difficile (October 2008)
... a potential complication that may arise due to the use of antibiotics. I have mentioned this complication before, but lately it is ... The concern is for the development of antibiotic-related diarrhea and colitis due to a bacterium named Clostridium difficile .
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Probiotics in the News (August 2011)
... showed that several strains of Lactobacillus produced antibiotics against six different species of gas-forming coliforms. The ... Probiotics for Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea, C. Difficile This report published in the American Academy of ...
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Probiotics Recommended for Nursing Home Residents (March 2011)
... The patient is required to take medications, including antibiotics. The antibiotics adversely affect the gastrointestinal ... medications and change in activity level, constipation and diarrhea become real problems. These disorders can severely affect quality life ...
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C Dificile on the Rise Again
... The problem arises when we take an antibiotic. The use of antibiotics for illnesses such as respiratory and urinary infections doesn’ ... produce toxins that damage the lining of the colon and cause diarrhea or even severe colitis. The infection can be life threatening, ...
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Side Effects of Heartburn Drugs
... intestinal infection that can occur in people taking antibiotics. C. difficile typically results in severe diarrhea but can lead to removal of the colon or even death in extreme cases. ...
