The intestinal microbial community (microbiota) is identified as an essential 'super organism' pivotal to health and disease. Consequently, alteration or instability of the microbiota and changes in its biodiversity are these days believed to be contributing factors which may promote inflammation and mucosal tissue damage that predisposes people to pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Among the gastrointestinal conditions linked with altered gut microbiota are acute diarrhea, and/or inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). In our urbanized world antibiotic therapy is essential for the treatment of life-threatening infections, however, inappropriate use of antibiotics is associated with potential side effects and may lead to the development of antibiotic resistances as well as bacterial infections. Even routine and appropriate use of antibiotics may have a detrimental impact on the host's microbial ecosystem, which is important for mucosal protection [1, 2]. In humans, treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics may result in the development of Escherichia coli as well as Salmonella spp. infections [1, 3, 4]. During Salmonella infections inappropriate antibiotic therapy may enhance pathogen persistence and further asymptomatic carriage [5]. Antibiotic therapy for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can unexpectedly change the clinical picture of disease and may increase the risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome and fatal outcomes.
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