Prophylaxis and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: is there evidence for using probiotics?

Abstract

A 66-year-old woman with a history of liver cirrhosis and alcohol abuse presented with hematemesis and black tarry stools secondary to a variceal bleed. The patient was started on ceftriaxone for prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and subsequently developed Clostridium difficile negative antibioticassociated diarrhea (AAD). Are probiotics an appropriate adjunct to therapeutic regimens for AAD and could prophylactic use of probiotics have prevented this complication?