Use acid-suppressing drugs appropriately with an individualized approach to minimize the risk of infection

Acid-suppressing drugs (ASDs) have been associated with an increased risk of various infections, although causality has not been determined owing to data limitations and conflictions. As such, ASDs should be used cautiously and be limited to appropriate evidence-based settings. ASD regimens should also be individualized (taking into account patient risk factors, likelihood of adverse events and drug interactions) and the overall risks and benefits of the therapy balanced. It may also be prudent to consider adjunctive preventative measures, such as prebiotics, probiotics, increased fibre intake and correction of vitamin D status. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature.