In mouse and in vitro models, bowel preparation promotes pathogen colonization, translocation, and exacerbation of inflammation
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Author(s)
Charlotte A. Clayton, Imogen Porter, Brian D. Deng, Giselle McCallum, Apsara Srinivas, Claire Sie, Jerry Y. He, Alexander D. Pei, Dominique Tertigas, Deanna M. Pepin, Touran Fardeen, Katharine M. Ng, Sidhartha R. Sinha, Michael G. Surette, Bruce A. Vallance, and Carolina Tropini
Colonoscopies play a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies, but the effects of bowel preparation in people with compromised gut health are poorly understood. In this study, the authors found that simulating bowel preparation in mouse models temporarily depleted the protective mucus barrier that lines the gastrointestinal tract, the beneficial bacteria that reside in the gut, and the levels of short-chain fatty acids in the gut, increasing susceptibility to infection and inflammation. With further studies in humans, this work will help establish whether bowel preparation has unappreciated risks for people with inflammatory bowel disease and inform ways to make the procedure safer for vulnerable patient populations.