Management of STEC Gastroenteritis: Is There a Role for Probiotics?

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 16; no. 9; p. 1649
• Main Authors: Giordano, Mario, Baldassarre, Maria Elisabetta, Palmieri, Viviana, Torres, Diletta D., Carbone, Vincenza, Santangelo, Luisa, Gentile, Federico, Panza, Raffaella, Di Mauro, Federica, Capozza, Manuela, Di Mauro, Antonio, Laforgia, Nicola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.05.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Anemia; Diarrhea; Disease; E coli; Escherichia coli Infections - drug therapy; Escherichia coli Infections - epidemiology; Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology; Food contamination & poisoning; Gastroenteritis - complications; Gastroenteritis - drug therapy; Gastroenteritis - epidemiology; Gastroenteritis - microbiology; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - drug therapy; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - epidemiology; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - microbiology; Humans; Incidence; Infections; Inflammatory bowel disease; Kidneys; Large intestine; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Metabolism; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Mortality; Pathogens; Pediatrics; Prevention; Probiotics; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Review; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli - physiology; Italy; “Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome” [Mesh]; “Microbiota” [Mesh]; “Probiotics” [Mesh]; “Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli” [Mesh]
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091649

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia Coli (STEC) infections routinely run as a common gastroenteritis, but in many cases they may evolve towards hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a rare disease characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. Gut microorganisms have a fundamental impact on human physiology, because they modulate normal intestinal functions and play a pivotal role in influencing the local and systemic immune responses. Despite surveillance established in many countries and major progresses in the understanding of STEC-HUS mechanisms, no specific treatment is currently available. Targeting the gut microbiota could represent a new potential therapeutic strategy in STEC infection. In this paper, we reviewed the current knowledge about microbiota characteristics of patients with STEC infections, as well as in vitro and in vivo evidence of probiotic supplementation in managing STEC gastroenteritis and in HUS onset prevention.