Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026
Injections of Lipopolysaccharide into Mice to Mimic Entrance of Microbial-derived Products After Intestinal Barrier Breach
Published on: May 2, 2018
Gastrointestinal bacterial infections precede disease activation and treatment intensification in patients with
Merit Kase1, Krista Johanna Vitikainen2, Clas-Göran Af Björkesten3
1Department of Internal Medicine and Rehabilitation, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 340 (Haartmaninkatu 4), Helsinki FI-00290, Finland.
Background:
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at heightened risk of infection for several reasons.
Objectives:
To evaluate the factors predisposing IBD patients to gastrointestinal (GI) infections, the elements influencing the severity of these infections and the likelihood of hospitalization, and the impact of GI bacterial infections on the progression of IBD.
Design:
Retrospective, single-center, case-control study of IBD patients with GI infection and matched controls.
Methods:
Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease who tested positive for Campylobacter spp., Yersinia spp., Salmonella spp., or enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli were enrolled. Clostridioides difficile was excluded due to its distinct epidemiology. For each patient with a GI bacterial infection, a control patient with IBD but without the infection was matched by sex and proximity in calendar age. Data were collected from electronic patient records spanning from January 2008 to June 2023. Various risk factors for medical consultations and hospitalizations due to GI bacterial infections were evaluated. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were used to assess the associations between GI infections and clinical outcomes.
Results:
Of the 5194 IBD patients in the IBD registry, 123 patients had a confirmed GI infection, the majority having UC (n = 79, 64%). Patients who experienced GI infection had a higher likelihood of experiencing an IBD flare within 1-6 months post-infection, often requiring intensification of medication, than the control group. However, such factors as age, IBD phenotype, disease activity, comorbidities, IBD pharmacological treatment, and prior travel to countries with lower hygiene standards did not increase the risk of severe bacterial infection or the likelihood of requiring hospitalization.
Conclusion:
Our study indicates that IBD patients diagnosed with GI infections may be at elevated risk of experiencing an IBD flare within 1-6 months post-infection, often necessitating the intensification of their pharmacological treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...