The downside of antibiotics – part I
A damaged gut unleashes devastating bacteria
The internal organs of animals are separated from the bacteria-filled gut with a single layer of cells that is only 20µm thick – the epithelium. The vast surface area of the gut is constantly exposed to damage: mechanical trauma of epithelium, environmental toxins, and pathogenic bacteria. Through these injuries bacteria can travel via the lymphatic system to lymph nodes, liver, and spleen and cause sepsis, shock, organ failure or death to the animal.
Friendly microflora to the aid
Fortunately injuries usually recover quickly. Scientists have discovered that mice lacking most of their microflora after broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment were unable to efficiently repair gut epithelium.
It means that friendly microflora can activate the process of intestine reparation and auto-healing and help the animal to mend the holes in the gut surface faster.
Changes in the mixture of bacteria can be harmful
Chemotherapeutical treatments, unusual and inappropriate feeding, gastrointestinal parasites are among the most critical causes for harmful changes in gut microflora.
Antibiotic and anthelmintic treatments have the most negative effect on the intestinal bacteria. There is no antibiotic, which can select and attack only the pathogen in the mixture of the bacteria. At best the chemotherapeutic agent is chosen for its ability to kill pathogen; whether it will also kill the good bacteria inside the host is incidental.
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