What is “Gut Flora?”
This information is intended for U.S. residents only.
Gut flora—a complex “invisible organ”1
Gut flora is the term used to describe the microbiota that live in the human gastrointestinal tract, a diverse and complex environment made up of trillions of bacteria.2 Although similarities exist between humans, no two people have the exact same composition of gut bacterial cells.3,4
Gut flora is important to a healthy body
Adapted with permission from O'Hara.
A dynamic balance
A dynamic balance exists between gut flora and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which is called the epithelium.3,5 Gut flora bacteria play a critical role in the immune system, protecting the body against infection. Gut flora also performs several other key functions—producing vitamins and essential nutrients, digesting food we cannot digest on our own, and breaking down drugs and toxins.2 These bacteria, however, can cause serious disease if they escape into the bloodstream.6 Only a single layer of gastrointestinal epithelial cells helps prevent this from happening.1
A finely tuned system of signaling between gut flora and the epithelium allows gut flora and the body to live together in harmony.3
Healthy flora does not trigger imbalance, pathogenic (unwanted) flora does.5
Click on the video below to explore gut flora
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References
1. O'Hara AM, Shanahan F. The gut flora as a forgotten organ. EMBO Rep. 2006;7(7):688-693.
2. Phillips ML. Gut reaction. Environmental effects on the human microbiota. Environ Health Perspect. 2009;117(5):A199-A205.
3. Preidis GA, Versalovic J. Targeting the human microbiome with antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics: gastroenterology enters the metagenomics era. Gastroenterology. 2009;136:2015-2031.
4. Eckburg PB, Bik EM, Bernstein CN, et al. Diversity of the human intestinal microbial flora. Science. 2005;308(5728):1635-1638.
5. Srikanth CV, McCormick BA. Interactions of the intestinal epithelium with the pathogen and the indigenous microbiota: a three-way crosstalk. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2008;ID 626827.
6. Scarpignato C, Pelosini I. Rifaximin, a poorly absorbed antibiotic: pharmacology and clinical potential. Chemotherapy. 2005;51(suppl 1):36-66.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Xifaxan® (rifaximin) Tablets are indicated for the treatment of patients (≥12 years of age) with travelers’ diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of
Escherichia coli. Xifaxan should not be used in patients with diarrhea complicated by fever or blood in the stool or diarrhea due to pathogens other than Escherichia coli. Xifaxan should be
discontinued if diarrhea symptoms get worse or persist more than 24-48 hours and alternative antibiotic therapy should be considered. Escherichia coli has been shown to develop resistance to rifaximin in vitro. However, the clinical significance of such an effect has not been studied.
In clinical trials, Xifaxan was generally well tolerated. The most common side effects (vs. placebo) were flatulence 11.3% (vs. 19.7%), headache 9.7% (vs. 9.2%), abdominal pain 7.2% (vs. 10.1%), rectal tenesmus 7.2%
(vs. 8.8%), defecation urgency 5.9% (vs. 9.2%) and nausea 5.3% (vs. 8.3%).
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