According to a new study published just three days ago in the journal American Society for Microbiology, researchers demonstrated that a single course of antibiotics was strong enough to alter the gastrointestinal microbiome for up to one year.

There is a time and a place for antibiotics. They successfully fight infectious diseases and significantly reduce illness and death. However, many doctors still commonly over-prescribe these medications. In the US, antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause at least two million cases of disease and over 20,000 fatalities each year.

In this new study, the microbial diversity was severely affected for months after exposure in the healthy adults who were prescribed different antibiotics. Researchers specifically saw a decline in the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria.

The microbial diversity in the stool was significantly reduced for up to 4 months in participants taking clindamycin and up to 12 months in those taking ciprofloxacin. Amoxicillin had no significant effect on microbiome diversity; however, it was associated with the greatest number of antibiotic-resistant genes.

If a patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics, it is crucial that they concurrently take Saccharomyces boulardii. This is a non-pathogenic yeast that protects the microbiome during antibiotic therapy. S. boulardii is one of my favorite gastrointestinal support supplements, as it is protective to the intestinal epithelial cells and helps maintain intestinal barrier function. It also increases SIgA secretion, directly inhibits colonization of harmful bacteria, and restores normal intestinal function in patients with diarrhea.

The growing levels of antibiotic resistance and the exit of major pharmaceutical companies from antibiotic development make phage therapy another great treatment option for the rising number of untreatable infections. Phages have an 80-90% success rate against bacteria likely to show antibiotic resistance, such as Escherichia coli.

Other choices of nutrition intervention that should be considered include silver and various botanical extracts and essential oils, all of which have a long history of antimicrobial properties while being relatively sparing to the beneficial bacteria.

Note: I send out at least 10 articles per year on Microbiomes and the Global Microbiome Initiative. I do this because treating the Human Microbiome is the “Medicine of the Future”.

Note: In my practice I use high quality Phage products; the world’s best Microbiome products, Mild Silver Protein NOT Colloidal Silver, and imported herbs and spices..

Note: I have had friends of patients but not my patients state they are on their sixth antibiotic for sinus infections.  I cringe to think the effect on their intestines. According to the new AMA guidelines, antibiotics are no longer recommended for sinus infections..

Note: If antibiotics are used it is imperative to use a high quality Probiotic such as MBM or HLC Intensive.  99% of the probiotics on the market are not effective. Antibiotics are taken away from a meal and probiotics with a meal.

For more information regarding this issue please contact me [email protected] or 619-231-1778