Chapters authored
Unlocking the Potential of Ghost Probiotics in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern that requires immediate attention. Major causes of development of antimicrobial resistance in microbial cells are overuse of antimicrobials along the food chain especially in livestock, in preventing infections as well as misuse of antimicrobials by patients. Probiotics could be a viable alternative to antibiotics in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Probiotic strains can act as a complement to antimicrobial therapy, improving antimicrobial function and enhancing immunity. However, there are safety concerns regarding the extensive use of live microbial cells especially in immunocompromised individuals; these include microbial translocation, inhibition of other beneficial microorganisms and development of antimicrobial resistance, among other concerns. Inevitably, ghost probiotics have become the favored alternative as they eliminate the safety and shelf-life problems associated with use of probiotics. Ghost probiotics are non-viable microbial cells (intact or broken) or metabolic products from microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts have biologic activity in the host and confer health benefits. Ghost probiotics exert biological effects similar to probiotics. However, the major drawback of using ghost probiotics is that the mechanism of action of these is currently unknown, hence more research is required and regulatory instruments are needed to assure the safety of consumers.
Part of the book: The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemic
Improving Antimicrobial Stewardship in Human Health Using Probiotics and Their Derivatives
Since antimicrobial resistance poses the biggest risks to human health, antimicrobial stewardship implies a strategy of responsible management. To lessen antimicrobial resistance and its impacts, a number of antimicrobial stewardship strategies are being used. One such crucial tactic is the use of probiotics and their derivatives, which directly affect the gut microbiota and have been linked to the development and management of a number of human diseases. Undoubtedly, the gut microbiota has a significant impact on the host immunological response, defense against pathogen overgrowth, biosynthesis, and metabolism. There is a rising need to incorporate strategies for altering the gut microbiota as a means of therapy or infection prevention in routine clinical practice as our understanding of the connections between the gut microbiota and host immunity and infectious illnesses deepens. Probiotics and their derivatives influence the development of various species in the gut microbiome to support the host’s health. This review aims to investigate how the gut microbiota is modulated by probiotics, ghost probiotics, postbiotics, and synbiotics, and what this means for infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship.
Part of the book: Antimicrobial Stewardship