Summary: The 2014 1st International Symposium on the Microbiome in Health and Disease with a Special Focus on Autism brought out anecdotal parent findings that autism symptoms improved or worsened on antibiotics. Baylor College of Medicine study in conjunction with Texas Children’s Hospital, is now investigating those findings! If you have an autistic child, consider enrolling now before they are sick, so you have a test kit if prescribed an antibiotic over the next two years. You would send microbiome samples pre and post the antibiotic. Those are to be evaluated for changes to behavior and the microbiome — the bacteria, yeasts and fungi that also inhabit the gut, as well as examining metabolites (small chemical molecules) found in the GI tract. The study is free to participants and fully paid for by N of One: Autism Research Foundation which is founded by John Rodakis, the father of an autistic son who experienced symptom improvement due to an antibiotic dose Thanksgiving 2012. Participate if you can to increase understanding of Antibiotics, Autism Symptoms which at present, has a gap in the published autism research. This initial data may more effectively sub-type autism and develop and deliver more effective microbial-based interventions.
Tag Archives: Antibiotics and/or Resistance
Watch Bacteria Become Antibiotic Resistant
SUMMARY: This genius 2 week time-lapse video by Harvard Medical School lab lets you watch bacteria become antibiotic resistant. This experiment is thought to be the first large-scale glimpse of the maneuvers of bacteria as they become superbugs as they encounter increasingly higher doses of antibiotic and adapt to survive — and thrive — in them! Also read what to do if prescribed an antibiotic. Why? Antibiotics severely affect microbial diversity in the gut for months after exposure (4 months for clindamycin, 12 months for ciprofoxacin)… An added bonus of this experiment is the rewriting of lab research tools: The use of a large scale petri plate now opens up new ways for researchers to think about and conduct novel experiments!
What to do if taking ANTIBIOTICS, MICROBIOME
Summary: Antibiotics carpet bomb the microbiome. Here’s important things to do if you must take an antibiotic as noted in this article by Dr. Robynne Chutkan, MD and gastroenterologist, see bio below. I’ve adapted the list to include the How-To-Do details. Realize that the gist of the steps below you should ALWAYS be doing, not just during times you take antibiotics. But be particularly diligent and persistent following these steps if you must take an antibiotic in order to try to counteract the antibiotics, microbiome, nuke! For even more guidance on what to do before and after taking antibiotics, Dr. Mark Hyman’s recommendations from his article, Here’s the Downside of Antibiotics Your Doctor Might Not Tell You, has been added. Last, the studies looking at antibiotics and Culturelle, VSL #3, and Saccharomyces boulardii or Florastor(®), as well as their precautions, are included.
Antibiotic Resistance: Obama White House Today Convenes First Antibiotic Summit
SUMMARY: This is an incredibly timely followup to my last post, ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND MICROBIOME COMPETITIVE CROWDING OUT CONCEPTS. Copied below is the press coverage, issued just minutes ago, of:
Today: Obama White House Convenes (one day) First Antibiotic Summit focusing on “Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship” .
I can’t say enough about the real risk for acquiring an antibiotic resistant infection as explained in my last post, ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND MICROBIOME COMPETITIVE CROWDING OUT CONCEPTS, especially given that the average American has lost 1/3 of their diversity. Another study estimates 1 in 4 have 40% less bacteria (see prior post link for references). This post also provided maps that showed individual state antibiotic use and resistance risk:
US Antibiotic Resistance and WHO
SUMMARY: Antibiotic resistance is invisible to most of us until you, a family member, or an acquaintance acquires such an infection. You can check out the slides below to see state by state, US Antibiotic Resistance Risk and state Antibiotic Use. erhaps the most reasonable mechanism to prevent antibiotic need in the first place, is explained in the post PRESERVE & RESTORE LOSS OF MICROBIOME DIVERSITY IS AGGRESSIVE PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE. These concepts are especially important given that the average American has lost 1/3 of their microbiome diversity, as estimated by Dr. Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello as seen on this interview for the film “Microbirth.” Another study estimates 1 in 4 have 40% less bacteria (see This Danish study, or read the scientific article here).