title: In vitro effects of sulphasalazine, azodisal sodium, and their metabolites on Clostridium difficile and some other faecal bacteria.
abstract: The effects of sulphasalazine (SASP), azodisal sodium (ADS), and their metabolites were tested in vitro on aerobic and anaerobic faecal bacterial strains. Sulphapyridine (SP) had a mild to moderate effect on Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis. SASP also had a growth-inhibitory effect on Strep. faecalis. The other substances had no effect on the aerobic strains. SASP, SP, 5-aminosalicylic acid, and, to a certain extent, N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid exerted a growth-inhibitory effect on the anaerobic strains. Of special interest was the inhibitory effect on Clostridium difficile strains. In recent years the possibility that overgrowth of Cl. difficile could cause flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease has been discussed. Some studies suggested that SASP treatment could predispose to Cl. difficile superinfection, whereas others found SASP more probable to exert a prophylactic effect. Our findings support the theory that SASP treatment reduces rather than promotes the risk of Cl. difficile superinfection.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandberg-Gertzen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjellander
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sundberg-Gillå
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Järnerot
mesh_terms: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects; D003013:Clostridium / Q000187:drug effects*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D012460:Sulfasalazine; C032587:olsalazine