Study suggests heartburn meds-superbug infections link

Patients who take certain heartburn medications may be more likely to suffer recurrent bouts of a common "superbug" infection, a new study suggests.
Proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium, or so-called H2 blockers, such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet, were linked to a 50 percent increased risk of developing multiple Clostridium difficile infections, researchers found.
However, the study did not prove these heartburn medications cause recurrent C. difficile infections, just that an association appears to exist.
And one specialist not involved with the study said the findings won't make him change his prescribing patterns.
C. difficile can cause diarrhea and life-threatening inflammation of the colon. In the United States, about half a million people get sick from C. difficile each year. In recent years, these infections have become more common, more severe and more difficult to treat, according to the Mayo Clinic. 
"Gastric acid suppression medications are commonly prescribed and consumed over-the-counter for gastric reflux disease [GERD], peptic ulcer disease or functional dyspepsia, but they are also sometimes prescribed for unnecessary indications, which leads to overuse of these medications," said study lead researcher Dr. Sahil Khanna. He's an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic's division of gastroenterology and hematology in Rochester, Minn. Recurrent C. difficile infection is a major problem, with the risk as high as 50 to 60 percent in people having had three or more infections, Khanna said.
C. difficile most commonly affects older adults in hospitals or in long-term care facilities and typically occurs after use of antibiotics, he said.
    HealthDay

Study suggests heartburn meds-superbug infections link

Patients who take certain heartburn medications may be more likely to suffer recurrent bouts of a common superbug infection, a new study suggests. Proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium, or so-called H2 blockers, such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet, were linked to a 50 percent increased risk of developing multiple Clostridium difficile infections, researchers found. However, the study did not prove these heartburn medications cause recurrent C. difficile infections, just that an association appears to exist. And one specialist not involved with the study said the findings wont make him change his prescribing patterns. C. difficile can cause diarrhea and life-threatening inflammation of the colon. In the United States, about half a million people get sick from C. difficile each year. In recent years, these infections have become more common, more severe and more difficult to treat, according to the Mayo Clinic. Gastric acid suppression medications are commonly prescribed and consumed over-the-counter for gastric reflux disease [GERD], peptic ulcer disease or functional dyspepsia, but they are also sometimes prescribed for unnecessary indications, which leads to overuse of these medications, said study lead researcher Dr. Sahil Khanna. Hes an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinics division of gastroenterology and hematology in Rochester, Minn. Recurrent C. difficile infection is a major problem, with the risk as high as 50 to 60 percent in people having had three or more infections, Khanna said. C. difficile most commonly affects older adults in hospitals or in long-term care facilities and typically occurs after use of antibiotics, he said. HealthDay