Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) cause serious infections that are difficult to treat, leading to increased morbidity and mortality, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Many risk factors for MDRO infections are present in the Veteran population (such as older age, underlying medical conditions like diabetes, and stays in long-term healthcare settings). Some people can carry these organisms in their gut. Even without current symptoms, carrying these MDROs also increases risk of future infection. Effective, easy to use, and inexpensive interventions to reduce gut carriage of MDROs are needed to reduce risk of infection. Dietary fiber prebiotics have shown promise in improving the healthy gut microbiome, and the investigators have found that individuals with high fiber in their diets have reduced carriage of MDROs in the gut. The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a dietary fiber prebiotic intervention (resistant potato starch) in reducing gut MDRO carriage in Veterans with a history of MDRO carriage and/or infection. The investigators will also evaluate the effect on the gut microbiome as well as Veterans' experience with the fiber intervention.
Presence of C. difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and/or Multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDRE) in the gut as determined by a stool test
Ambulatory/not hospitalized at time of enrollment
Allergy to any ingredient or source material in intervention or placebo product
Severe gastrointestinal condition that may be exacerbated by high dietary fiber intake (history of bowel obstruction, intestinal strictures, diverticulitis, active inflammatory bowel disease with structuring, gastroparesis, and/or severe gastrointestinal motility disorders)
Uncontrolled diabetes (hospitalized in previous 5 years due to diabetes)
Dysphagia
Parallel
Resistant Potato Starch
DrugMSPrebiotic (MSPrebiotic Inc, Carberry, Manitoba, Canada). MSPrebiotic is an unmodified resistant starch derived from potatoes (Solanar tuberosum). It consists of 20% amylose and 80% amylopectin forming granules the stomach and small intestine are unable to digest allowing for absorption in the colon. MSPrebiotic is consumed by mixing 10g into cold or room temperature foods or beverages; it is not to be heated.
Maltodextrin
DrugThe placebo will be 10 grams of digestible maltodextrin powder daily. Maltodextrin is a is a polysaccharide food additive and is white, tasteless, water-soluble powder making it a comparable placebo for the prebiotic. The placebo will be pharmaceutical grade and available over the counter.
Multidrug resistant organism (MDRO) Decolonization
Changes in prevalence of MDRO carriage with one or more MDRO of interest: C. difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and/or multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDRE)
Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) levels
Changes in fecal AAT levels. AAT has been used successfully as a biomarker for intestinal permeability with higher concentrations of AAT in the gut indicating a leaky gut.
Gut microbiome composition
The gut microbiome will be assessed using next generation sequencing (shotgun metagenomics)
Changes in gut microbiome metabolites
Gut microbiome metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, secondary-bile acid producers) will be identified through next-generation sequencing technology and both targeted and untargeted metabolomics.
Multidrug resistant organism (MDRO) Infections
Changes in infection rates with one or more of the MDROs of interest: C. difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and/or multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDRE)
Intervention acceptability
A written questionnaire will be given to assess participants' experience with the fiber products. The questionnaire will include statements where participants are asked to rate their agreement with the statement, with responses on a 5-point Likert scale (1-Strongly Disagree to 5-Strongly Agree). Higher scores will indicate higher acceptability of the product.
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