New evidence shows how antibiotics, often relied upon for treating complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may play a role in causing the conditions.
A study, published on Sept. 11 in Science Advances, found that antibiotics hindered mucus secretion in mice, creating holes in the protective mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that allowed bacteria to penetrate the intestinal barrier wall. This contributes to ulcers, hallmarks of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two forms of IBD.
