iScience (Jan 2022)

Gut Ruminococcaceae levels at baseline correlate with risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

  • Xiaoqiong Gu,
  • Jean X.Y. Sim,
  • Wei Lin Lee,
  • Liang Cui,
  • Yvonne F.Z. Chan,
  • Ega Danu Chang,
  • Yii Ean Teh,
  • An-Ni Zhang,
  • Federica Armas,
  • Franciscus Chandra,
  • Hongjie Chen,
  • Shijie Zhao,
  • Zhanyi Lee,
  • Janelle R. Thompson,
  • Eng Eong Ooi,
  • Jenny G. Low,
  • Eric J. Alm,
  • Shirin Kalimuddin

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 1
p. 103644

Abstract

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Summary: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) affects a significant proportion of patients receiving antibiotics. We sought to understand if differences in the gut microbiome would influence the development of AAD. We administered a 3-day course of amoxicillin-clavulanate to 30 healthy adult volunteers, and analyzed their stool microbiome, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, at baseline and up to 4 weeks post antibiotic administration. Lower levels of gut Ruminococcaceae were significantly and consistently observed from baseline until day 7 in participants who developed AAD. Overall, participants who developed AAD experienced a greater decrease in microbial diversity. The probability of AAD could be predicted based on qPCR-derived levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii at baseline. Our findings suggest that a lack of gut Ruminococcaceae influences development of AAD. Quantification of F. prausnitzii in stool prior to antibiotic administration may help identify patients at risk of AAD, and aid clinicians in devising individualized treatment regimens to minimize such adverse effects.

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