Gastroenterology Month in Review: June 2025

June proved to be a dynamic month in gastroenterology, marked by notable advances across research, clinical practice, and collaborative, cross-specialty care.

The editorial teams of HCPLive Gastroenterology and HCPLive Dermatology released a special report on the overlap between immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in GI and dermatology, underscoring the importance of collaboration between specialties in order to provide patients with the best, most complete care possible.

Additionally, June saw the publication of novel research about Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treatment and prevention, as well as a pair of notable studies on the prevalence of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) in children with celiac disease and the role diet may play in influencing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) severity and prevalence across the world.

Check out this June 2025 gastroenterology month in review for a recap of HCPLive’s coverage of the top GI news and research from the past few weeks:

Collaborative Care Across GI and Dermatology

Bridging Gut and Skin Care: A Call for Collaboration in Inflammatory Disease Management

In the latest HCPLive Special Report, Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and as founder and director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago, and Adelina Hung, MD, a clinical assistant professor at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and director of the IBD program at Sinai Health System Chicago, explore the growing clinical and research intersections between dermatology and gastroenterology. Framed by their shared academic background and personal relationship as husband and wife, the conversation offers a detailed, cross-disciplinary look at how immune-mediated diseases of the skin and gut overlap—and how a collaborative care model can enhance outcomes for patients.

Updates in C Diff Infection

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Shows Promise for First-Line Primary C Diff Treatment

Findings from a recent randomized, open-label, noninferiority phase 3 trial suggest fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be a viable first-line treatment for primary CDI, highlighting its noninferiority to standard-of-care vancomycin. Conducted at 20 hospitals in Norway, the trial found clinical cure and no disease recurrence within 60 days without additional treatment occurred in 66.7% of patients with FMT versus 61.2% with vancomycin, demonstrating FMT’s numerical superiority and statistically significant noninferiority to the standard-of-care antibiotic.

AI Tool Shows Promise for Antimicrobial Stewardship, C Diff Prevention in Hospitals

Recent research from Michigan Medicine suggests use of an AI-guided infection prevention bundle may support CDI prevention and antimicrobial stewardship in hospital settings. The study compared patient outcomes pre- and post-implementation of a previously validated institution-specific AI model for CDI risk prediction and found that although use of the AI bundle was not associated with a significant reduction in CDI incidence, it was linked to substantial reductions in CDI-associated antimicrobial use.

New Research in IBS, Other DGBI

DGBI Common in Children with Adequately Managed Celiac Disease, Study Finds

Findings from a recent study suggest DGBI are common in pediatric patients with celiac disease (CeD) despite adequate adherence to a gluten-free diet and declining tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A (TTG IgA) values. The retrospective chart review included nearly 200 pediatric CeD patients receiving care at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and found 43% of the cohort met Rome IV DGBI diagnostic criteria, primarily for functional constipation and functional abdominal pain, suggesting clinicians should consider DGBI in their patients who have persistent CeD symptoms despite adequate disease management.

Regional Dietary Patterns Tied to Global Prevalence, Severity of IBS

Findings from an analysis of Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study data suggest diet has a notable influence on the development and severity of IBS, which is estimated to affect anywhere from 5-10% of the global population. Specifically, the study identified 4 dietary pattern clusters adjusted by age, country and religion, that were associated with differences in both the global prevalence and severity of IBS.