Heartburn drugs affect gut bacteria, which may promote infection

By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) – Common drugs to reduce stomach acid and treat acid reflux also change the populations of microbes living in the intestines, which may help explain why they increase the risk of certain infections, according to a new study. Clostridium difficile, or “C. diff,” attacks the intestinal lining and causes severe diarrhea and pain. “I think mostly general practitioners and medical doctors should be aware of these side effects,” said lead author Floris Imhann of the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands.

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Heartburn drugs affect gut bacteria, which may promote infection