Selection of Probiotics in the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections and Their Impact on Occupational Health: Scoping Review.

José Antonio Picó-Monllor,Pedro Sánchez-Pellicer,Vicente Navarro-Lopez,Javier Peris-Berraco,Beatriz Ruzafa-Costas,Eva Núñez-Delegido

doi:10.3390/nu13124419

Abstract

The occupational health impact of respiratory infectious diseases is costly to the economy and the health care system. Probiotics are non-pathogenic live microorganisms that, when ingested in adequate amounts, can colonize the intestinal tract, and enhance the immune system. In recent years, numerous studies have described the possible usefulness of certain probiotic strains in the treatment and prevention of respiratory tract infections, with disparate results. In order to assess the possible efficacy and safety of these microorganisms to prevent or ameliorate respiratory tract infections, we systematically searched the bibliographic databases MEDLINE (via Pubmed), EMBASE, The Cochrane library, Scopus, and Web of science, using the descriptors “Respiratory Tract Infections”, “Probiotics”, “Occupational Health”, “Humans”, and “Clinical Trials”. After applying our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 studies were accepted for review and critical analysis. Our analysis suggests that a combination of different probiotics, most of them in the genus Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus sp., could be a good mix to strengthen the immune system and reduce the symptoms of URTIs in the healthy working population.

Highlights

According to the WHO, occupational health is an area of public health work whose mission is to promote and maintain the highest degree of physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations
Considering the benefits of certain probiotics in diseases of the respiratory system and their ability to stimulate the immune response of the host, we proposed this scoping review to identify and select potential probiotic strains to prevent Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), decrease the severity in those cases that end up developing the disease, and diminish their impact on occupational health
This review aimed to carry out a critical and systematic study of the works published in different databases through direct consultation and access via the Internet to works collected in the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library Plus, and Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)-Web of Science

Summary

Introduction

According to the WHO, occupational health is an area of public health work whose mission is to promote and maintain the highest degree of physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. In its report on respiratory diseases and their impact worldwide, GARD describes the five respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and acute lower respiratory infections) that are among the most common causes of death all over the world. These are an immense health burden worldwide, and it is estimated that lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) cause almost 4 million deaths per year and are the leading cause of death among children under 5 years of age. Those caused by the flu (influenza), kill 250,000 to 500,000 people and cost between USD 71 to 167 billion annually [5]

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