Antibiotics and Probiotics: Get the Facts

There is a lot of misinformation about antibiotics and probiotics in the media, on social media and even within family and friends' circles, which can make it hard to separate fact from fiction. Read on for 5 verified facts about antibiotic and probiotic use.

Fact 1: Antibiotic Overuse is a Wide-Spread Concern

When you’re faced with a bacterial infection that your immune system is struggling to overcome, antibiotics can be lifesavers. Australia is one of the world’s biggest prescribers of antibiotics, but it is estimated that one third of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary.¹ This can cause harm to gut health and increase the incidence of antibiotic-resistant bugs and infections in the community.¹ In fact, the World Health Organisation outlined antimicrobial resistance, when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines (including antibiotics), as a global concern in 2023.²

Of course, there are many occasions where it is necessary to take antibiotics, whether as a one-off, or on a long-term or recurrent basis. If you do need to take them, it’s important to understand how antibiotics affect your body, and how to minimise the side effects associated with them.

Fact 2: Even a Single Course of Antibiotics can Disrupt Your Microbiome

Scientific research has shown that a single course of antibiotics can cause changes to your microbiome that can last for at least four years.³ This is because antibiotics don’t just target ‘bad bacteria’ that cause infections – they can also damage the good bacteria in your gut, negatively affecting the health and diversity of your microbiome. It’s the job of the good bacteria to make it difficult for pathogens (harmful microbes such as bacteria and yeasts) in your gut to grow. A reduction in good bacteria can therefore allow pathogens to inundate the gut, causing an imbalance between your good and bad microbes. Known as ‘dysbiosis’, this imbalance may increase your risk of infection and uncomfortable gut symptoms.

Fact 3: Antibiotics may Cause Both Short-Term and Long-Term Side Effects

Ten percent of the population experiences side effects when they take antibiotics,⁴ including digestive discomfort and pain, candidiasis or thrush, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD), or even Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which causes debilitating gut symptoms and is very hard to eradicate.³ If you only have to take antibiotics once in a while, this may not seem like such a big deal. However, repeated prescriptions can cause recurrent disruption to your microbiome, meaning the above side effects can be ongoing. Additionally, there are strong links between long-term microbiome disruption and the development of chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, chronic diarrhoea, metabolic syndrome and obesity.⁴ Luckily, we can use certain specific probiotic strains to reduce the risk of these side effects.

Fact 4: Certain Probiotic Strains Help Rebuild Good Bacteria and Reduce Antibiotic-Associated Side Effects

You may have read in the media recently that probiotics don’t work or can cause harm, but it’s important to note that the safety and effectiveness of probiotics comes down to the strains that are used, and whether they’re right for your individual needs.

If you need to take antibiotics and you want to reduce your risk of microbiome disruption and side effects, you should choose strains with specific, evidence-based results. Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®), Saccharomyces boulardii (SB) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (BB-12®), found in Ultra Flora Intensive Care, have all demonstrated efficacy in assisting the restoration of good bacteria, creating an environment representative of a healthy gut microbiome.⁵ ⁶ Rather than ‘colonising’ (living in) your gut, these bacteria are temporary guests that feed your naturally occurring gut bacteria to restore your unique balance of bacteria in your microbiome. Additionally, SB⁷, LGG® and BB-12®⁸ all stunt the growth of infectious microbes, reducing the risk of side effects related to pathogenic overgrowth, such as AAD. These benefits are even supported by clinical trials.

A review of studies involving 4,780 people taking antibiotics found that SB reduces AAD and enhances recovery of the microbiome during antibiotic use.⁹ Additionally, studies in 4,213 people showed that LGG® is safe and effective for preventing CDI and CDI-associated diarrhoea during antibiotic use.¹⁰ These strains offer protection from microbiome disruption and antibiotic-associated side effects.

Fact 5: Your Natural Healthcare Practitioner can Help You Choose the Right Probiotic for You

Sometimes antibiotics are necessary – even Healthcare Practitioners take them to help combat bacterial infections! If you need to take a course of antibiotics, Ultra Flora Intensive Care contains effective and evidence-based probiotic strains to help protect your microbiome and restore the levels of good gut bacteria. Find a Healthcare Practitioner near you today and discuss whether these probiotic strains are right for you.

References:

1. Deakin University. Australia is one of the biggest prescribers of antibiotics in the world – but often they’re unnecessary. Updated November 13, 2023. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/research-news-and-publications/articles/australia-is-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-prescribers-of-antibiotics-but-often-theyre-unnecessary
2. World Health Organisation. Antimicrobial resistance Face Sheet. Updated November 21, 2023. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance
3. Yoon MY, Yoon SS. Disruption of the Gut Ecosystem by Antibiotics. Yonsei Med J. 2018;59(1):4–12. doi:10.3349/ymj.2018.59.1.4
4. Ouwehand AC, Forssten S, Hibberd AA, Lyra A, Stahl B. Probiotic approach to prevent antibiotic resistance. Ann Med. 2016;48(4):246-55. doi: 10.3109/07853890.2016.1161232
5. Collignon A, Sandré C, Barc MC. Saccharomyces boulardii modulates dendritic cell properties and intestinal microbiota disruption after antibiotic treatment. Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2010 Sep;34 Suppl 1:S71-8. DOI: 10.1016/S0399-8320(10)70024-5.
6. Barc MC, Charrin-Sarnel C, Rochet V, Bourlioux F, Sandre C, Boureau H, et al. Molecular analysis of the digestive microbiota in a gnotobiotic mouse model during antibiotic treatment: Influence of Saccharomyces boulardii. Anaerobe. 2008 Oct;14(4):229-33 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2008.04.003.
7. Dinleyici EC, Eren M, Dogan N, et al. Clinical efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii or metronidazole in symptomatic children with Blastocystis hominis infection. Parasitol Res. 2011 Mar;108(3):541-5 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2095-4.
8. Hauser G, Salkic N, Vukelic K, et al. Probiotics for standard triple Helicobacter pylori eradication: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Medicine. 2015;94(17):e685. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000685.
9. Szajewska H, Kołodziej M. Systematic review with meta‐analysis: Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Oct;42(7):793-801 DOI:
10. 1111/apt.13344. 10. Goldenberg JZ, Ma SS, Saxton JD, et al. Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in adults and children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013; 5: CD006095.