Role of antibiotics for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Core Tip

Core tip: The gut microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis and complications of inflammatory bowel disease. Antibiotics may influence the course of inflammatory bowel disease by decreasing concentrations of bacteria in the gut lumen and altering the composition of intestinal microbiota. In Crohn’s disease, antibiotics may have a modest effect in decreasing disease activity and achieving remission, are more effective in patients with disease involving the colon, and are useful in the treatment of suppurative complications. Data is more sparse and less conclusive for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, though there might be some benefit in antibiotic treatment. Side effects, the risk of Clostridium dificile infection, and increasing antibiotic resistance should be considered. Further studies are needed to define the role of antibiotic treatment in inflammatory bowel diseases.