1. INTRODUCTION TO PROBIOTICS Probiotics was introduced in the early 20th century but it was not defined until the 1960s. According to Fooks and others (1999), the term probiotic is derived from two Greek words that are for life. Lilley and Stillwell (1965) first defined the term as a microbial substance that stimulated the growth of other microorganisms. According to them, probiotics are totally opposite to that of antibiotics. Parker (1974) provided a different view and defined it as organisms and substances that contribute to intestinal microbial balance. Fuller (1989) defined probiotics as a food supplement of live microbes that has favorable effects on the host as it improves the balance of intestinal microbes. Havenaar and Huis in’t Veld broadened this scope and several others have made numerous definitions of probiotics. According to World Health Organization (2001), the probiotics are the live microorganisms that include bacterial and yeast strains like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces cereviciae, etc. which provide certain health benefits to the host when consumed in appropriate amounts. In food industry, the term is aptly described as ‘live microbial …show more content…
PROBIOTICS IN MEDICAL PRACTICE A meta-analysis of some controlled trails has proved that probiotics are effective in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhea [23], including the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii and bacterium lactobacillus acidophilus in combination with L. bulgaricus. A variety of probiotics like lactobacillus species, enterococcus species , etc are effective in the treatment of diarrhea in both adults and children by reducing the mean duration of the diseases by more than 30 hr [24]. Probiotic therapy has also been examined in non gastrointestinal diseases, including the treatment and prevention of atopic eczema [25]. Nevertheless some facts suggest that the major clinical effects of probiotics are seen in gastrointestinal disorders. RISK ASSOCIATED WITH PROBIOTICS
Clostridium difficile, otherwise known as C. diff, is a species of spore-forming, anaerobic, gram-positive bacteria that is known to cause watery diarrhea. 1 The genus name, Clostridium refers to the spindle shape of the organism while Difficile means difficult in Latin due to the fact that this organism thrives in unfavorable conditions and is very difficult to isolate.4 The incidence of getting CDI has increased over the years due to new strains of increased toxin production of the bacteria and increased resistance to antibiotics.2 It is a gastrointestinal infection, and the most common cause of infectious diarrhea.1 C. difficile was first identified in the feces of healthy newborns back in the 1930’s and by 1935, it was considered normal flora. 2 During 1974, researchers conducted that about 21% of patients that were treated with an antibiotic called clindamyacin reported diarrhea and about 10% of them reported to have conducted pseudomembranous colitis as a side effect of this treatment. 2 It was in 1978 where C. diff had been known to cause anti-biotic associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. 2 It is known to form spores that resist many disinfectants; it also survives for several months on different surfaces.1 It is a common form of a nosocomial infection and the prevalence of becoming infected with C. diff is about 0-15% in a health care setting. 3 The spores survive well in environments such as soil, water and animals and is distributed worldwide. 4 CDI produces two toxins (Toxin A and B), which are cytotoxic and cause tissue necrosis.4
The SMART goal for the patient’s diagnosis of diarrhea is that the patient will defecate formed, soft stool every 1 to 3 days and will express relief of cramping with little or no diarrhea. The intervention to meet this smart goal is the administration of fidaxomicin, a narrow spectrum antibiotic, to treat the infection of Clostridium difficile (Sears, 2013). Another nursing intervention for the treatment of diarrhea is assessing the patient for sodium and potassium loss, as well as explaining the prevention methods to avoid the spread of excessive diarrhea (Mitchell, 2014). The nurse must also provide proper skin integrity care to the peritoneal are and make the environment safe and easy for access to the bathroom. The SMART goal for the patient’s diagnosis of acute pain is that the patient will state relief of pain in abdominal area after treatment with opioids in a 24hr period. The nursing intervention for acute pain is the administration of opioids as well as positioning to keep patient in as much comfort as possible and take pressure off of the abdominal area. The nurse must also assess the patient’s vital signs and pain level
Chassard, C., & Lacroix, C. (2013). Carbohydrates and the human gut microbiota. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 16(4), 453-460.
Weinstock, J. V., & Elliott, D. E. (2009). Helminths and the IBD hygiene hypothesis. Inflammatory bowel diseases, 15(1), 128-133.
Among hospitalized patients around the world, Clostridium difficile is the primary source of infectious diarrhea. Previously, continuously unbalanced intestinal microbiota, usually due to antimicrobials, was deemed a precondition of developing the infection. However, recently, there have been alterations in the biology from virtually infecting the elderly population exclusively, wherein the microbiota in their guts have been interrupted by antimicrobials, to currently infecting individuals within of all age groups displaying no recent antimicrobial use. Furthermore, recent reports have confirmed critical occurrences among groups previously assumed to be of minimal risk—pregnant women, children, and individuals with no previous exposure to antimicrobials, for instance. Unfortunately, this Gram-positive, toxin-producing anaerobic bacterium is estimated to cost US critical care facilities $800 million per year at present, suggesting the need for effective measures to eliminate this nosocomial infection (Yakob, Riley, Paterson, & Clements, 2013).
Is fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) effective treatment for patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC). UC is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine. FMT is used to describe the delivery of a healthy donors stool into a patient via enema, colonoscope, or nasogastric tube. In the past several years FMT has been used for an alternative treatment with patients diagnosed with Clostridium difficile (CD). The purpose of this paper is to discuss if FMT is just as effective in treating UC over just medication. The articles below will give insight if this theory is true or not.
applied probiotic capsules for bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal infections: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 168(2013), 75-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.12.031p
“The World Health Organization projects that as drug effectiveness decreases and antibiotic resistance increases, public education becomes more and more crucial” (476) Antibiotics were discovered in 1940 and since have been abused and misused. Between bad practices and lack of proper education antibiotic resistance has been allowed to occur. The only way to combat bacterial infections is with strong patient education and following the correct schedule in taking antibiotics.
This lab experiment was conducted in order to identify and confirm the presence of three types of organism within an unknown broth culture. The organism that were being tested fall under the categories of gram-positive, gram-negative paracolons, and gram-negative coliform. Gram positive organism are known to have thick cell wall made up of peptidoglycan, which are cross-link sugar chains with peptide bonds (Carson 13). Gram-positive bacteria are found within the phylum Firmicuites (Slonczewski & Foster 94). While gram-negative, have thin layers of one or two peptidoglycan cell wall, this type of bacteria are found within the phylum Proteobacteria (Slonczewaki & Foster). The gram positive and negative characteristic derived from a staining technique that was developed by Hans
Microbes are major key components in both are homes and industrial food preparation. There are number of lactic acid which is a form of bacteria which is a large group of beneficial bacteria used in certain foods while they are getting prepared such as yogurt, cheese, sour cream, butter milk and other type of fermented milk products. Things such as vinegars are produced by bacterial acetic acid fermentation. Yeast is also major use in the making of beer and wine and also for the leaving of breads. This also involves fermentations to convert corn and other vegetable carbohydrates to also make beer, wine or gasohol but also bacteria is the agents of are other foods. Other fermented foods will include things such as soy sauce, olives and cocoa. (Microbes and human life, 2013) Single cell proteins are known as dried cells of microbes which are used in protein supplement shacks. They are also called “novel food” and “minifood”. The production of this requires micro-organisms which then serve as the protein source and then the substrate which is biomass which they grow on them. There are a number of both these sources that we are able to use for the production of single cell protein (SCP). The micro-organisms used belong to the following groups of Algae, Fungi and bacteria. (Slide Share, 2012)
Bacteria are the simplest of organism that are alive. Bacteria are everywhere, they are in the food we consume, the soil we grow plants in, they also live inside you. They are very simple cells which are called prokaryotic cells. Which means bacteria doesn’t have an organized nucleus. Bacteria are small single cells whose whole purpose in life is to replicate. Bacteria can be helpful or harmful. One example in which bacteria can help you is through insulin. Insulin is a human hormone that helps your body function properly. Wait, but what if your body can’t produce insulin? That is when scientist take a the human hormone (insulin) and insert it into bacteria that can help your body. This is also considered biotechnology. Bacteria can also
Did you know that 80% of your immune system is in your gut? Eating, or in this case drinking, probiotics can help balance the delicate system in your gut and help your overall health.
A person's gut bacteria, also known as gut flora, is as personal as any other aspect in their life. Human innovation and food revolution is outpacing our biological evolution. The high availability of processed foods, ease of access to high fat and sugary substances is vastly different than it was 100 years ago. Foods we eat are the primary contributors to gut flora, yet the need of our symbiotic bacteria to thrive is beyond our control. Science understands the correlation, but does not yet understand whether changes in our health are the result or cause of changes in a person's gut flora. However, gut flora has been proven to be influenced by our genetics and other environmental factors. Gut flora can change within 24 hours of changing diet.
The discovery of antibiotics is attributed to Alexander Fleming who discovered the first antibiotic to be commercially used (Penicillin) in approximately 1928. An antibiotic, also known as an antimicrobial, is a medication that is taken in order to either destroy or slow the growth rate of bacteria. Antibiotics are integral to the success of many medical practises, such as; surgical procedures, organ transplants, the treatment of cancer and the treatment of the critically ill. (Ramanan Laxminarayan, 2013)
Anyone who regularly find themselves afflicted with colds or flus can benefit from the respiratory fighting properties of yogurt. Research have found that yogurt containing the Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 probiotic strain can actually decrease the odds of ending up with a respiratory infection. It can also reduce the duration of the infection if it does occur and also reduce nasal congestion (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19747410).