In the past decade the gut microbiome has received scientific attention like few other topics. It has become increasingly apparent that the commensal microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the health of the host. Changes of the microbiota composition or function coincide with different disorders such as infectious (i. e. Clostridium difficile infection) or inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Although the significance of this observation has not yet been fully elucidated and understood, several of attempts aimed at modulating the microbiota composition have been made. This article gives an update on current advances and clinical implications of the gut microbiome in infectious and inflammatory bowel diseases.
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