EFFECT OF BACTERIAL-INFECTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF A PROBIOTIC ON FECAL SHORT-CHAIN FATTY-ACIDS

Faecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were determined in children wit h shigellosis (n = 22) or salmonellosis (n = 11) prior to treatment an d 5 d and 10 d after treatment with an antibacterial drug (TMP-SMX or Polymyxin, 5 d), or Lactobacillus GG (10(10) - 10(11) CFU/d, 10 d), or both had been started. At admission the SCFA concentrations were very low. Acetic, propionic and iso-valeric acid were significantly higher in shigellosis than in salmonellosis. The SCFA concentrations increas ed significantly during treatment, reaching those of adults by the 5th day and exceeding them by the 10th day, and showed no difference betw een the diseases after the Ist day. Adminstration of Lactobacillus GG resulted in increased concentration of propionic acid by the 5th day o f treatment and difference in iso-caproic acid in the 10th day samples : it was not found in any child who had received Lactobacillus GG but was present in half of the samples from the group treated solely with antibacterial drug. Iso-caproic acid is not found in healthy adults an d may be indicative of Clostridium difficile. The disturbances in micr obial ecology of the gut in enteric infections may have different char acteristics depending on the aetiological agent. Treatment with Lactob acillus GG promotes recovery of the ecosystem as reflected by the faec al SCFAs.