5630: Prebiotic in Clostridium Difficile
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the role of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG) as a Prebiotic in Improving Therapeutic Outcomes across Hospitalized Individuals affected with Clostridium difficile Infection: A prospective cohort study
IRAS ID
243379
Contact name
Nirouz Zarroug
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
FOHS 199, University Project registration ; RD&I 5630, Royal Liverpool Hospital R&D
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
Research Question: To what extent can commensal gastrointestinal microbiome be influenced across individuals with Clostridium difficle infection (CDI) who consume Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum (PHGG)?
Study Aim: To assess and explore the role of PHGG consumption as an adjunctive therapy for individuals with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).There is a high risk of mortality and morbidity for those infected with CDI (Department of Health, Heath Protection Agency 2008). NHS bed pressures, increasing healthcare costs and an ageing population has meant the focus on tackling the infection and preventing reoccurrence remains a primary agenda item (Feher and Mensa 2016). Optimized gut health is considered as an integral part of therapeutic intervention for addressing nutritional losses and for preventing colonic inflammation in CDI (Dietert and Dietert 2015). The proposed study would explore the prebiotic properties of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) in ameliorating the symptoms and in aiding recovery of dysbiosis across consenting inpatients at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital affected with CDI. The proposed research would also evaluate whether molecular signatures and patterns associated with PHGG could be identified in the microbiome. The proposed study could help to justify funding for pursuing research in the field of prebiotics.
Gut microbiota play a key role in resistance and colonization of C. difficile, and this resistance can be altered following the disruption of normal gut microbial community structure following antibiotic use or other alterations in host physiology (Khanna et al. 2016). Prebiotics appear to induce selective fermentation by known beneficial bacteria Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli at the expense of other bacterial groups (Gibson et al. 2004). Exploring its usage as an adjunctive therapy within a hospital setting will add value to this newly emerging therapy and help understand the composition of an individual's microbiota to the development of CDI and the balance between resolution and relapse.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0720
Date of REC Opinion
20 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion