Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/824946
49 ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE & STEWARDSHIP Antibiotics Linked to Increased Risk of Bowel Cancer By Brian Zimmerman T he link between lengthy antibiotic prescriptions — which can alter the gut microbiome — and colorectal cancer has been strength- ened by new findings published in the journal Gut. While previous research has associated antibiotic use with colorectal cancer, the link between antibiotics and bowel polyps — a harbinger of the majority of colorectal cancers — has not been investigated. For the study, researchers analyzed health data of 16,642 nurses com- piled in the 2010 U.S. Nurses' Health Study. Participants had undergone at least one colonoscopy. Analysis of the data revealed nurses aged 20 to 39 and 40 to 59 who had been treated with antibiotics for two months or more had a significantly higher risk of developing colorectal adenoma (bowel polyps). "These data provide additional support for the association of antibiotics with colorectal cancer and the potential mediating role of the gut micro- biome in carcinogenesis," wrote the study's authors. "Additional studies investigating the impact of antibiotic exposure with gut microbial com- position and function, particularly in relation to the mechanisms underly- ing colorectal carcinogenesis, are warranted." n eardrum than children who received neo- mycin. "We have tended to use quinolone ear drops fairly liberally after tympanosto- my tube surgery," Patrick Antonelli, MD, a professor and chair of UF's department of otolaryngology and co-author of the study, said in a statement. "This was largely based on their relative lack of toxicity to the in- ner ear. Our findings suggest the need for more caution with the use of quinolone ear drops." Even though the findings only demonstrate an association, not causation, they are still concerned about the connection. "Evidence on quinolones' detrimental ef- fects on soft tissues, animal studies, clinical trials and observational studies overwhelm- ingly point to the possibility that quinolo- nes could contribute to the development of persistent eardrum perforations," said Al- mut Winterstein, PhD, a professor and chair of the department of pharmaceutical out- comes and policy in the UF College of Phar- macy and co-author of the study. n 1,200+ ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS THE NATION REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 AND SAVE! KEYNOTES BY 24 TH ANNUAL MEETING: THE BUSINESS & OPERATIONS OF ASCS OCTOBER 26-28, 2017 SWISSOTEL | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 190 SPEAKERS, INCLUDING 137+ SPEAKERS DIRECTLY FROM SURGERY CENTERS Register here at www.beckersasc.com/annual- ambulatory-surgery-centers-conference/ Call 800-417-2035 or email Jessica Cole at jcole@beckershealthcare.com or Scott Becker at sbecker@beckershealthcare.com The Best Business-Focused, Strategic Discussions in the ASC Industry with a Special AEU Credit Track BECKER'S ASC REVIEW Bill Walton, NBA Legend and Basketball Analyst Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN's "College GameDay" Analyst and Reporter Alexa von Tobel, Founder and CEO of Learnvest.com, Author of Financially Fearless Andrew Hayek, CEO of OptumHealth, CEO of Surgical Care Affiliates