Rats with an acute pancreatitis have fewer infections and survive an infection more often when they are administered ‘good’ bacteria known as probiotics. The daily intake of a mix of six bacteria strains, ensures that harmful disease-causing bacteria is kept out of the small intestine. This is what doctor and researcher Paul van Minnen of the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht has concluded in his doctoral thesis.
Probiotics are live ‘good’ bacteria that push out harmful bacteria by allowing them less room to survive. The administration of probiotics daily to laboratory animals with acute pancreatitis, reduced the risk of infection and death. Moreover, probiotics strengthen the intestinal wall, meaning that harmful bacteria have less chance of being released from the intestine. In addition, they support the immune system in helping to fight infections. However, probiotics do not permanently colonize the intestine which is why they need to be given on a daily basis.
In fifteen percent of human pancreatitis cases, some pancreatic tissue dies as a result of the infection. The dead tissue can become infected with bacteria that come from the intestine. Any dead pancreatic tissue that becomes infected considerably increases the risk of mortality and is a reason for surgical intervention. Other research projects have shown that antibiotics hardly help in preventing bacterial infections in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Moreover, the use of antibiotics introduces the danger of bacterial resistance.
A national research project has now been started into the effectivity of probiotics in patients with pancreatitis. All university medical centers and twelve large regional hospitals are taking part in this research. There are now more than two hundred and fifty patients involved in the study. Paul van Minnen will obtain his doctorate on December 7, from the University of Utrecht.
For more information please contact: University Medical Center Utrecht, department of internal and external communication, Annette Aarts and Linda Minnen, tel. 088 75 574 83.