Practical Recommendations of Scientific Society for the Study of Human Microbiome and Russian Gastroenterological Association (RGA) for Probiotics in Treatment and Prevention of Gastroenterological Diseases in Adults

[Prediction of the course of antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile based on clinical and laboratory characteristics of the disease]

BACKGROUND

The most severe complications of antibiotic use are clostridial infection (CDI) and pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). There is a need for further study of these conditions and identification of their triggers.

AIM

To identify risk factors for severe forms of antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A clinical and laboratory examination of 440 patients with CDI who were treated at Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital was conducted. CDI was confirmed by detection of toxins A and B of C. difficile in feces using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatography. Metronidazole (2 g/day, in patients without comorbid pathology) and vancomycin (0.5-2 g/day) were used as a starting drug for up to 14 days. Statistical processing of the obtained data was performed using the Statistica for Windows, v.10 (StatSoft, USA) program.

RESULTS

CDI was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 202 (45.91%) patients, immunochromatography - in 149 (33.86%), endoscopically - in 203 (46.14%). CDI was most frequently recorded in 2 age groups of patients: 18-30 years old - in 137 (31.14%); over 60 years old - in 205 (46.59%). CDI was characterized by a combination of colitic and intoxication syndromes. In 43 (9.77%) patients the disease resulted in death. The diagnosis of PMС was established in 61 (13.86%) people. The risks of developing PMC when prescribing antibacterial drugs decreased in the following order: fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, macrolides, penicillins, nitrofurans and chloramphenicol. Probiotic drugs reduced the risk of developing PMC (relative risk 0.5 [0.3; 0.7]; p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

PMC was characterized by a combination of diarrhea, intoxication and abdominal pain. The formation of PMC was preceded by courses of antibacterial drugs of the fluoroquinolone and cephalosporin groups, eradication therapy for Helicobacter infection, the use of high doses of glucocorticosteroids, as well as intestinal superinfection in patients with previous episodes of CDI.

Microbiota and Cardiovascular Diseases: Mechanisms of Influence and Correction Possibilities

The term "microbiota"  refers to the microbial  community  occupying a specific  habitat  with  defined  physical  and  chemical  properties  and  forming specific  ecological  niches.  The adult  intestinal  microbiota  is diverse.  It mainly  consists  of bacteria  of Bacteroidetes  and  Firmicutes  types.  The link between the gut microbiota  and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is being actively discussed.  Rapid progress  in this field is explained  by the development of new generation  sequencing methods and the use of sterile gut mice in experiments.  More and more data are being published about the influence of microbiota  on the development  and course of hypertension, coronary  heart disease (IHD), myocardial  hypertrophy, chronic heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Diet therapy,  antibacterial drugs,  pro- and prebiotics are successfully  used as tools to correct the structure of the gut microbiota of the macroorganism. Correction  of gut microbiota  in an experiment  on rats with coronary  occlusion  demonstrates  a significant  reduction in necrotic area. A study  involving  patients  suffering  from  CHF  reveals a significant  reduction  in the level of uric acid,  highly  sensitive C-reactive protein,  and creatinine. In addition to structural and laboratory changes  in patients with CVD when modifying the microbiota  of the gut, also revealed the effect on the course of arterial hypertension. Correction  of gut microbiota  has a beneficial  effect on the course of AF. We assume  that further active study of issues of influence and interaction of gut microbiota  and macroorganism may in the foreseeable future make significant  adjustments  in approaches to treatment of such patients.

Syndrome of increased epithelial permeability: opportunities of current pharmacotherapy

Syndrome of increased epithelial permeability (SPEP) is considered as one of the universal mechanisms that determine the subsequent development of chronic systemic inflammation of varying severity. Studies carried out in the last 10 years have shown the important role of SPEP in the pathogenesis of many diseases of internal organs, and, first of all, of the gastrointestinal diseases. The article discusses possible ways of correcting impaired epithelial permeability from the point of view of the cytoprotective effects of drugs most often prescribed to patients with gastrontestinal diseases.

The microbiome of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: pathophysiology and applied aspects

Irritable bowel syndrome is a clinically and socially significant disease. The pathophysiology, the clinical manifestations of this disease and the  prognosis for  the patient are closely related to dysbiotic disorders of  the intestine. This review summarizes the ideas about changes in the intestinal microbiome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The pathogenetically substantiated approaches to the correction of dysbiosis that improving treatment outcomes are also considered. The results of the FLORAVIE clinical trial, which were discussed at the Expert Council “Identification of indications for prescribing probiotics in patients with irritable bowel syndrome” on March 18, 2022, are presented. Members of the Expert Council, Russian and international clinical guidelines emphasize the relevance of targeted probiotics administration. It was noticed that only strain specificity allows predicting a positive clinical response and has a certain evidence base. In this regard, the FLORAVIE study, conducted in real clinical practice in patients with predominantly severe forms of irritable bowel syndrome, is clinically relevant. It has been demonstrated that 30-day administration of the B. longum 35624 probiotic has reduced the severity of irritable bowel syndrome and has improved the quality of life in all subgroups of patients, especially in those with the most severe form of the disease. The data presented indicate that the inclusion of probiotic strains with proven mechanism of action in the complex therapy of irritable bowel syndrome can lead to the transformation of the course of the disease and improve the quality of life of patients. The high level of evidence made it possible to introduce the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum 35624 into a number of domestic and foreign guidelines.

 

Functional gastrointestinal disorders. Overlap syndrome Clinical guidelines of the Russian Scientific Medical Society of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterological Scientific Society of Russia

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Approaches to prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children

The incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, according to various authors, ranges from 5 to 39% and depends on the patient’s age and other contributing factors. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea can be caused by any antibiotic, regardless of dosage form or route of administration. In the pediatric population, the prevalence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea ranges from 6 to 70%. An urgent problem is the development of this disease against the background of a course of H. pylori eradication therapy, which significantly complicates tolerance and adherence to therapy. This article presents current data on the pathogenesis and risk factors of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children. The clinical picture ranges from idiopathic enteritis to antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by Cl. difficile - pseudomembranous colitis.

The main principle of antibiotic-associated diarrhea treatment is cancellation of the antibacterial medicine that caused the diarrhea, or reducing its dose (if the course of the disease allows it). In complex treatment sorbents are used, correction of water-electrolyte balance is carried out. The use of probiotics seems quite logical for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in terms of the pathogenesis of this condition. To correct dysbiosis, drugs are used to maintain and restore the quantitative and qualitative composition of the intestinal microbiota.

Taking into account modern recommendations the main groups of drugs (probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics) used for correction of intestinal microbiocenosis are presented. The mechanism of action of probiotics and mechanisms of their effect on intestinal microflora are considered. The basic requirements for bacterial strains that are part of the probiotic drugs are presented.

The results of various randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses confirming the necessity of including probiotic complexes in antibiotic-associated diarrhea treatment regimens are presented from an evidence-based medicine perspective. The clinical effects of strains of Lactobacillusspp., Bifidobacterium spp.,Streptococcusspp. and Lactococcusspp. on the digestive tract microbiota are considered. The role of a synbiotic containing 9 probiotic strains of 4.5 * 109 CFU in one capsule and the prebiotic component fructooligosac-charides in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children is discussed separately. The results of microbiological studies confirmed the presence of microorganisms of genera Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus in the product, and the content of bacteria in one dose of the product was not less than 2 x 1010 CFU.

Pathogenetic Role and Possibilities for Correction of Gut Microbiota Disorders in Urinary Tract Infections

The article presents current data on the role of gut microbiota in the development of urinary tract infections. The main pathogenetic mechanisms contributing to the chronic recurrent course of the disease, the spread of antimicrobial resistance, as well as their connection to the disorders of gut microbiota are shown. It is known that most pathogens of urinary infections originate from the gut microbiota, where they exist for a long time, forming reservoirs. The normal composition and functions of the microbiota prevent colonization of the intestine by pathogenic bacteria and reduce the risk of developing this disease. Ways of correction through diet, probiotics, as well as fecal microbiota transplantation are considered. Modulation of gut microbiota may be a promising approach in the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections. Meanwhile, a qualitative evidence base on the effectiveness of this strategy has not been formed. Further research in this direction is required.

Modern aspects of the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome

A review of modern data from the study of functional disorders of the digestive tract is performed. In the United States, 4 million people with functional bowel disorders seek medical care annually, and the annual cost of managing these patients is $ 358 million. Due to the urgency of the problem, new developments appear, among which it is necessary to highlight the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines for the management of patients with IBS. To examine patients with suspected IBS, the authors of the ACG guideline proposed a positive diagnostic strategy, which is based on a careful study of the anamnesis, focusing on the key symptoms of the relationship between abdominal pain and bowel function during a long course of the disease (more than 6 months) and the absence of alarming symptoms with minimal use of instrumental diagnostic tests. For the diagnosis of IBS, the  authors recommended serological testing for  celiac disease, determination of  fecal calprotectin  and C-reactive protein  to exclude inflammatory bowel diseases, but they did not consider it necessary to routinely analyze stool for intestinal pathogens. From our point of view, the absence of routine stool analysis for intestinal pathogens is completely inapplicable for Russia, since in our country the frequency of detection of diphyllobothriasis, giardiasis and opisthorchiasis is very high. The ACG consensus drew attention to the need to expand the evidence base for the use of some standard drugs for the treatment of IBS, proposed a number of new drugs (lebiprostone, linaclotide), recommended the use of rifaximin (for the treatment of IBS with a predominance of diarrhea) and tricyclic antidepressants (for the treatment of IBS). Analysis of modern international recommendations suggests that the clinical guidelines of the Russian Gastroenterological Association and the Association of Coloproctologists of Russia for the diagnosis and treatment of IBS are currently the main document governing the management of these patients in our country.

Modern approaches to the correction of the gut microbiota

The article presents modern data on the formation, structure, functions and possibilities of correction of the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is a collection of living organisms that inhabit the human intestine and form a complex microecological system that performs many functions. It is known that the composition and state of the gut microbiota is influenced by both environmental factors, such as diet and lifestyle, and the human body, including genetic predisposition. A violation in this system (dysbiosis) can provoke the development of a number of diseases and pathological conditions, in which the correction of the gut microbiota may be a promising therapeutic strategy. The most common methods of correcting dysbiosis are dieting, the use of pro-and prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. The diet affects the qualitative and quantitative composition and functions of the gut microbiota, the activity of its individual representatives. Probiotics are used to modulate, preserve the gut microbiota in dysbiosis, as well as to prevent its development. Fecal microbiota transplantation is performed by transferring the microbiota from a healthy donor. This method is one of the most effective ways to treat Clostridium difficile infection. This review article also presents the results of fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and hepatic encephalopathy. It is shown that after transplantation, there is a rapid change in the composition of the gut microbiota, which becomes similar to the microbiota of a healthy donor. Each of these methods of correction demonstrates a different degree of influence on the gut microbiota, and their therapeutic effectiveness depends on the direct characteristics of the methods used, as well as the specific disease and requires further study.

Irritable Bowel and Bacterial Overgrowth Syndromes: a Bacterial Link Hypothesis of Functional Disease

Aim. Assessment of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO) interlinkage.

Key points. SIBO may represent a "peripheral" mechanism of IBS, aside to nonspecific inflammation, increased epithelial permeability and local immune system activation. In various assays, the SIBO rate in IBS patients was 4-46% vs. 0-13% in an intact cohort. A limited diagnosability of SIBO obscures the SIBO-IBS causal interplay. Impaired motility in IBS may predispose to the SIBO development. Proinflammatory cytokines and mediators in SIBO, in turn, provoke visceral hypersensitivity and intense motility, the key IBS factors. Both conditions relate to qualitative and quantitative changes in microbiota, which warrants the application of probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.

Conclusion. Further research into the SIBO-IBS interface is required for developing optimal probiotic-based therapies.

[European Registry on the management of Helicobacter pylori infection: features of diagnosis and treatment in Kazan]

BACKGROUND

As part of an observational multicenter prospective study European Registry on the management of Helicobacter pylori infection, conducted on the initiative of the European H. pylori and Microbiota Study Group, the compliance of clinical practice in the management of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection in Kazan with clinical guidelines was assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of 437 patients included into the register by clinical sites in Kazan in 20132019 were analyzed. The methods used for the initial diagnosis of H. pylori infection and eradication control were evaluated. The frequency of various eradication therapy regimens prescription was analyzed in 379 cases. Data regarding the effectiveness of eradication therapy was analyzed in 173 patients.

RESULTS

The rapid urease test (44.2% of cases) and cytology/histology (60% of cases) were most often used for the initial diagnosis of H. pylori infection; however non-invasive methods such as 13C-urea breath (9.2%), serology (6.2%), H. pylori stool antigen test (2.3%) were less common. In 21.7% of patients two methods of H. pylori detection were used for primary diagnosis. The control test to evaluate the effectiveness of eradication therapy at the recommended timepoint was performed in 46.2% of patients. 13C-urea breath test (31.7%), stool PCR/stool antigen test (28.7%), rapid urease test (22.3%), cytology/histology (26.2% of cases) prevailed in the assessment of eradication rate. Standard triple therapy, including proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin and amoxicillin was most commonly prescribed as first-line therapy (64.6% of cases). The duration of eradication therapy was 14 days in the majority of cases with pantoprazole as the most common proton pump inhibitor in standard triple therapy regimens (84.8%). The efficacy of 14-day standard triple therapy (mITT) was 87.0%.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate a high frequency of non-invasive methods use for assessing the effectiveness of eradication therapy; however, the overall rate of eradication efficacy assessment is low, limiting the possibility of analyzing the eradication results. The effectiveness of the most common 14-day standard triple first-line therapy in Kazan doesnt reach the recommended 90% eradication level. This could be explained by high rate of pantoprazole use, which is not an optimal proton pump inhibitor in eradication therapy regimens.

Probiotics in the Modern World

Aim of review. The review highlights modern concepts of the role of microbiome in sustaining the human body, the place of probiotics in treatment and prevention of pathologies related to disorders in healthy microbiota.

Key points. Microbiome is a unique panorganismal system normally maintaining self-equilibrium and possessing a vast and diverse functionality. Imbalance in normal microbiota can be assisted by probiotics, i.e. living microorganisms that sustain health of the host when being supplied in adequate amounts. Alike normal microflora, probiotic strains incorporate into general metabolism by mediating a spectrum of functions, e.g. maintaining colonisation resistance, nutrient metabolism, supplying the host with vital metabolites, regulation of local and adaptive immune responses, enhancing the intestinal barrier. Probiotics are applied in various diseases associated with general imbalances of the organism. Modern probiotic preparations are characterised by acid- and antibiotic-resistivity and safety, thus being suitable for treating gut microbiome-associated disorders in various age groups.

Conclusion. Probiotic strains, as well as medications designed on their basis, are widely applied and show good promise. Further research into their properties will advance the prospects of probiotic treatment.