ciprofloxacin + Escherichia coli Nissle 1917

Ciprofloxacin + Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 is a combination therapy that has been studied for various gastrointestinal conditions, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ulcerative colitis. This combination pairs ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone class, with Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), a well-documented probiotic strain. The combination has been investigated in clinical settings with mixed results. In a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled study for active ulcerative colitis, patients received ciprofloxacin or placebo for 1 week followed by EcN or placebo for 7 weeks as add-on treatments to conventional therapies[1]. Surprisingly, the study found that in the group receiving placebo followed by EcN, fewer patients reached remission compared to the placebo/placebo group[1]. In contrast, research in animal models has shown more promising results. Studies with gnotobiotic piglets demonstrated that EcN treatment concurrent with ciprofloxacin (EcN+Cipro) enhanced immune responses against human rotavirus infection[2]. The combination increased antibody titers and improved various immune parameters that were reduced by ciprofloxacin alone[2]. The mechanism behind this combination involves ciprofloxacin's antimicrobial activity potentially clearing pathogenic bacteria, while EcN acts as an immunostimulant and helps restore beneficial gut microbiota. EcN has been shown to enhance both innate and adaptive immune responses, particularly in the context of antibiotic-induced intestinal microbial imbalance[2][5].

Brand names

Mutaflor

Other names

E. coli Nissle 1917 + ciprofloxacinEcN + ciprofloxacin