Researchers analyzed studies with adult patients receiving therapy, alone or in combination, for at least seven days and up to 16 weeks for IBD. Their analysis also included studies with patients receiving at least six months of follow-up for preventing relapse. Primary outcomes measured were remission or relapse.
There were 10 studies involving 1,160 patients with active CD, showing a statistically significant effect of antibiotics being superior to placebo. For example, rifamycin derivatives, alone or in combination with other antibiotics, appeared to induce remission in active CD. There were also three trials evaluating 123 patients with perianal CD fistula using either ciprofloxacin or metronidazole, which resulted in a statistically significant effect in reducing fistula drainage. Several other studies showed statistical significance in favor of antibiotic use in inducing remission in CD and UC.
Read the study about antibiotic therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.
Read other coverage about inflammatory bowel disease:
– Diet Impacts Occurrence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
– Johns Hopkins: Pediatric IBD Cases Growing, but Diagnosed Late
– Study: Patients Taking Isotretinoin at Increased Risk of Ulcerative Colitis
