Bacteria and Health: from Investigating to Implementing

The Netherlands is leading in research on the relationship between gut bacteria and health. Compared to other Western countries, the Netherlands lags behind in implementing the results of this research. As a result, the Dutch patient is missing out on many potential health benefits and the government is missing out on an opportunity to save on healthcare costs.

Europe considers research into the microbiome important. The European Commission has already invested more than 60 million euros in this under the FP7 framework. Recent questions within the European commission show that research into the role of the microbiota in health and disease still enjoys great interest. Not unfairly, because disturbances in the microbiome are increasingly associated with the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, low-grade inflammatory diseases and reduction of side effects of antibiotics.

The Netherlands is at the forefront of research on the microbiome. With pioneering studies in research centers such as WUR, AMC, VUmc and MUMC+, the Netherlands can rightly call itself a leader in this field. One example is the successful treatment of patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections using donor feces in the AMC. Worldwide, the Netherlands is among the top with this form of fundamental and experimental research.

However, the greatest health effect is only achieved if these research results are also implemented. This appears to happen to a lesser extent in the Netherlands. For example, Cochrane reports showing how specific probiotics can reduce short- and long-term disturbances in the microbiota as a result of antibiotic use are hardly ever taken up. It appears that very few Dutch physicians still prescribe probiotics in addition to antibiotic use. Currently, in foreign healthcare facilities, additional quality of life is ensured in combination with financial savings through the use of probiotics in addition to antibiotics among other things by reducing Clostridium difficile infections.

What are the reasons that the Dutch patient does not benefit from our leading role in knowledge about gut bacteria? Why is there investment in knowledge but not in its application?

Now that the cabinet has decided, at the request of D66, to put more money into knowledge development, it is to be hoped that this will close the gap between science and expertise in the field of the microbiota.

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