Klebsiella Bacteria Studied in Relation to Colic and Crohn's

A new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, by J Marc Rhoads, MD, and colleagues has identified Klebsiella bacterium as a possible suspect in colic in babies. 

Klebsiella are a common bacteria, but a study of 36 babies, half of whom were colicky, only those with colic were found to have Klebsiella in their intestines.  In the small study non colicky babies had more bacteria in their instestines, but not Klebsiella.

Klebsiella has been discussed in relation to Crohn's disease as well as ankylosing spondylitis.  Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease that many Crohn's patients have an an ancillary disease and which shares some treatments with Crohn's such as immunosupressents and anti-TNF drugs.

According to the study, there may be some possibility of treating colic with probiotics, the idea being that if you populate the digestive tract with good bacteria it will force out the inflammation causing klesiella.

This extract from the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology which discusses the role of klebsiella bacteria in Crohn's and Ankylosing Spondylitis mentions  that the role of this bacteria might explain why some patients get relief from a low starch and lactose free diet.  Here is a quote from the abstract:

A link exists between high dietary starch intake and the growth of intestinal microflora, involving especially Klebsiella microbes. Increased exposure to Klebsiella in the gut as the result of high starch intake would lead to high production of antiKlebsiella antibodies as well as autoantibodies to the cross-reactive self-antigens with the resultant inflammation at the pathological sites. Eradication of these microbes from the gut in patients with Crohn's disease with the use of low-starch diet and antibacterial agents as well as immunomodulatory measures could be beneficial in the management of this disease.

Klebsiella is a lactose eating bacteria, so it makes sense that it you don't give it the food it likes it could lower the concentration of the bacteria in the colon.  It seems to make sense to me as well, that taking strong probiotics would also force out the other bacterias and replace the flora with the bacterias that don't cause inflammation.  This actually makes a great case for the Specific Carbohydrate diet, and Makers Diet plans which many IBD patients find work for them.

Here is a link to the Probiotic I personally take.  The Primadophilus Reuteri is one of the strains that has been shown to help IBD, and these pearls from Nature's Way do not need refrigeration which helps me remember to take them.  If I keep them in the fridge I tend to forget to take them but if they are with my other medications I remember.