January 5, 2017

expert reaction to study investigating the association between stomach acid suppression medications and risk of gastrointestinal infections

Scientists publishing in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology have looked into whether acid suppression medicines increase the risk of bacterial gastroenteritis.

Prof. Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis & Dean of Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said:

“The study clearly shows that patients on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are more at risk of developing diarrheal disease. A likely explanation for this is that PPIs reduce acid in the stomach which is a mechanism to reduce ingested bacteria reaching our intestines. It is therefore not surprising that these drugs alter patient’s susceptibility to food poisoning organisms such as Campylobacter jejuni, and alters a balanced microflora in the intestines that is required to prevent the colonisation of Clostridium difficile. An outcome of the study is that patients on PPIs should practise healthy hygiene”

* ‘Acid suppression medications and bacterial gastroenteritis: a population-based cohort study’ by Wei et al. published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology at 05:01 UK time on Thursday 5th January.

Declared interests

Prof. Brendan Wren: No conflicts of interest.