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Nitrate-reducing bacteria in diversion colitis: a clue to inflammation?
C Neut1, F Guillemot, J F Colombel
1Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|January 24, 1998
Summary
Patients with excluded colons show significantly higher levels of nitrate-reducing bacteria, suggesting a role in chronic intestinal inflammation. This finding highlights potential mechanisms in diversion colitis and associated infections.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Nitric oxide's pathogenic role is implicated in intestinal inflammation.
- Diversion colitis, an excluded colon model, lacks exogenous nitrite/nitrate supply.
- This study investigates nitrate-reducing bacteria in diversion colitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and characterize nitrate-reducing bacteria in patients with diversion colitis.
- To compare bacterial profiles in diversion colitis patients versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Rectal swabs from 30 diversion colitis patients and 30 healthy controls.
- Bacterial culture and subculture to determine nitrate-reducer percentages.
- Identification of isolated bacterial strains.
Main Results:
- Higher percentage of nitrate-reducers in diversion colitis patients (46% +/- 41%) vs. controls (19% +/- 24%) (P < 0.05).
- Increased isolation of nitrate-reducing bacterial strains from patients (29.5%) compared to controls (21%) (P < 0.05).
- Predominance of aerobic nitrate-reducers, including Pseudomonas, Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella in patients.
Conclusions:
- Diversion colitis is associated with an increased abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria.
- Specific bacterial genera like Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella may contribute to inflammation.
- Nitric oxide synthase activity could promote pathogenic bacteria, fostering chronic inflammation and infection.