Antibiotics and Kidney Stones: Perturbation of the Gut-Kidney Axis

The cumulative incidence of kidney stone disease in the United States has doubled over 15 years, and its prevalence is now equivalent to that of diabetes.1,2 This dramatic and unexplained increase in incidence has disproportionately affected children and young women.1,3 Nephrolithiasis is a disorder of mineral metabolism that is associated with increased risk for chronic kidney disease,4,5 fracture,6 and hypertension.5,7 Individuals with nephrolithiasis also have a high risk for recurrent painful kidney stone events,8,9 some of which require surgery and are associated with increased risk for kidney failure and death.