Risk Of Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea Research Articles

Lactobacillus casei Shirota probiotic drinks reduce antibiotic associated diarrhoea in patients with spinal cord injuries who regularly consume proton pump inhibitors: a subgroup analysis of the ECLISP multicentre RCT.

This was a sub-group analysis of a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial (ECLISP trial) OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of a probiotic containing at least 6.5 × 109 live Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhoea (AAD) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who consumed proton pump inhibitor (PPI) regularly. LcS or placebo was given once daily for the duration of an antibiotic course and continued for 7 days thereafter. The trial was registered with ISRCTN:13119162. Three SCI centres (National Spinal Injuries Centre, Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries and Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre) in the United Kingdom METHODS: Between November 2014, and November 2019, 95 eligible consenting SCI patients (median age: 57; IQ range: 43-69) were randomly allocated to receive LcS (n = 50) or placebo (n = 45). The primary outcome is the occurrence of AAD up to 30 days after finishing LcS/placebo. The LcS group had a significantly lower incidence of AAD at 30 days after finishing the antibiotic course (28.0 v 53.3%, RR: 95% CI: 0.53, 0.31-0.89; z = 2.5, p = 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that LcS can reduce the risk of AAD at 30 days (OR: 0.36, 95% CI 0.13, 0.99, p < 0.05). No intervention-related adverse events were reported during the study. LcS has the potential to prevent AAD in what could be considered a defined vulnerable group of SCI patients on regular PPI. A confirmatory, randomised, placebo-controlled study is needed to confirm this apparent therapeutic success to translate it into appropriate clinical outcomes. Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

Unique Properties of Yeast Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745: A Narrative Review.

Probiotics, both bacterial and yeast, have long been associated with a beneficial health history and human well-being. Among yeasts, Saccharomyces is a genus that is efficacious in rendering better human health, with Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) CNCM I-745 being classified as a probiotic agent. The present review highlights the unique properties of S. boulardii and its rolein the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and pediatric acute gastroenteritis (PAGE) in comparison to bacterial probiotics. Its unique properties,such as viability over a wide pH range, inability to acquire antibiotic resistance genes, and property to achieve a steady state rapidly, have given S. boulardii an edge over bacterial probiotics. In AAD patients, prophylactic use of S. boulardii has shown a significantly lower risk of AAD (in comparison to controls) and restored the diversity of gut microbiota. Among Indian children with PAGE, S. boulardii CNCM I-745 was found superior to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and four strains of Bacillus clausii in shortening the duration of diarrhea and reducing the length of hospital stay. S. boulardii CNCM I-745 being considered a safe probiotic for use in children and adults also finds recommendations in several international guidelines for the management of acute diarrhea. The current review discusses evidence for the proven efficacy and safety of S. boulardii CNCM I-745 as a probiotic for preventing gastrointestinal disorders.

Opinions of gastroenterologists about intestinal microbiota modulating agents: results of the survey in focus groups

Aim. To study the opinions of gastroenterologists about drugs affecting the intestinal microflora.&#x0D; Materials and methods. A qualitative survey was conducted in focus groups to study the patterns of prescribing drugs that regulate intestinal microflora in chronic gastrointestinal diseases. The survey included only outpatient gastroenterologists who managed patients with irritable bowel syndrome, an uncomplicated diverticular disease with clinical manifestations and excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine for at least 3 years.&#x0D; Results. Physicians perceive the non-absorbable antibiotic rifaximin alpha as the drug of choice for treating these diseases; they are aware of its low bioavailability and suitability for repeated use. However, with severe clinical symptoms, some doctors tend to use systemic antibiotics before infectious or inflammatory complications are confirmed. It is due to the erroneous perception of systemic antibiotics as obviously more effective drugs than non-absorbable antibiotics. When choosing a drug, it is essential to consider the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, adverse changes in the microflora, and the patient's comorbidities.&#x0D; Conclusion. Surveyed gastroenterologists consider rifaximin alfa (Alfa Normix) the most suitable drug that helps in routine practice achieve the desired result with a minimum risk of adverse events. Many study participants are skeptical about the effect of probiotics due to the lack of evidence but emphasize their safety and the request for probiotics from patients. Not all doctors are aware of metabiotics. Prebiotics and dietary fibers are perceived as agents that affect both the intestinal microflora and the stool frequency. Some healthcare professionals are concerned about prebiotics and probiotics registered as dietary supplements, which can cause patient misunderstandings. Identified opinions about such agents can be used in training gastroenterologists and developing clinical guidelines.

Diarrea da antibiotico e probiotici: un matrimonio di scarsa utilità clinica. I risultati di un RCT

Antibiotic-induced diarrhea and probiotic: a marriage of little clinical utility. The results of an RCT The use of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is an intervention of questionable efficacy. This blinded randomized controlled trial carried out on more than 300 children between 2018 and 2021 with a multi-species probiotic did not demonstrate a reduction in the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea when outcomes were analysed according to the strictest definition. It also highlighted that how AAD is defined has a significant effect on clinical trial outcomes and interpretation.

Effects of Irrational Use of Antibiotics on Intestinal Health of Children with Extraintestinal Infectious Diseases.

The effects of different antibiotic treatment regimens on intestinal function and flora distribution in children with extraintestinal infectious diseases are explored. A total of 150 cases of extraintestinal infectious diseases admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 and 50 healthy subjects during the same period were selected for the study. These 150 children were randomly divided into cephalosporin group, piperacillin group, and combined group and were successively treated with ceftazidime, piperacillin, and two drug combination regimens. The efficacy of the drug, intestinal microflora, intestinal mucosal barrier function, and incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) were compared among the different groups. The experimental results showed that ceftazidime combined with piperacillin can effectively improve the intestinal health of children with extraintestinal infectious diseases but destroy the microecological environment of intestinal flora, affect the intestinal mucosal barrier function, and increase the risk of AAD.

Multispecies Probiotic for the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Children

The efficacy of multispecies probiotic formulations in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) remains unclear. To assess the effect of a multispecies probiotic on the risk of AAD in children. This randomized, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted from February 2018 to May 2021 in a multicenter, mixed setting (inpatients and outpatients). Patients were followed up throughout the intervention period. Eligibility criteria included age 3 months to 18 years, recruitment within 24 hours following initiation of broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics, and signed informed consent. In total, 646 eligible patients were approached and 350 patients took part in the trial. A multispecies probiotic consisting of Bifidobacterium bifidum W23, Bifidobacterium lactis W51, Lactobacillus acidophilus W37, L acidophilus W55, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei W20, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum W62, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus W71, and Ligilactobacillus salivarius W24, for a total dose of 10 billion colony-forming units daily, for the duration of antibiotic treatment and for 7 days after. The primary outcome was AAD, defined as 3 or more loose or watery stools per day in a 24-hour period, caused either by Clostridioides difficile or of otherwise unexplained etiology, after testing for common diarrheal pathogens. The secondary outcomes included diarrhea regardless of the etiology, diarrhea duration, and predefined diarrhea complications. A total of 350 children (192 boys and 158 girls; mean [range] age, 50 [3-212] months) were randomized and 313 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Compared with placebo (n = 155), the probiotic (n = 158) had no effect on risk of AAD (relative risk [RR], 0.81; 95% CI, 0.49-1.33). However, children in the probiotic group had a lower risk of diarrhea regardless of the etiology (RR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.44-0.94). No differences were observed between the groups for most of the secondary outcomes, including adverse events. A multispecies probiotic did not reduce the risk of AAD in children when analyzed according to the most stringent definition. However, it reduced the overall risk of diarrhea during and for 7 days after antibiotic treatment. Our study also shows that the AAD definition has a significant effect on clinical trial results and their interpretation. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03334604.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Consensus Guidelines for Probiotic Use in Childhood Diarrhea

Several probiotic species and strains, single or combined, have been evaluated in childhood diarrheal disorders, and recommendations have ever been changing as newer trials are published. Therefore, there is a need to develop a guideline for Indian children describing the current role of probiotics in clinical practice. To develop a guideline for the use of probiotics in children with diarrhea. A national consultative group (NCG) was constituted by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), consisting of subjects experts. Sub-topics were allotted to various experts as paired groups for detailed review. Members reviewed the international and Indian literature for existing guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and trials. Thereafter, two virtual structured meetings of the group were held on 2nd and 22nd August, 2020. The management guidelines were formulated by the group and circulated to the participants for comments. The final guidelines were approved by all experts, and adopted by the IAP executive board. The NCG suggests Lactobacillus GG as a conditional recommendation with low-to-moderate level evidence or Saccharomyces boulardii as a conditional recommendation with very low-to-low level evidence as adjuvant therapy in acute diarrhea. The NCG also recommends the use of combination probiotics in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), as these reduce the risk of NEC stage II and above, late-onset sepsis, mortality and also time to achieve full feeds. The NCG does not recommend the use of any kind of probiotics in the therapy of acute dysentery, persistent diarrhea, Clostridium difficile diarrhea and chronic diarrheal conditions such as celiac disease, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease in children. Risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is high with some antibiotics and most of these cases present as mild diarrhea. The NCG recommends probiotics only in special situations of AAD. L. rhamnoses GG or S. boulardii may be used for the prevention of AAD. VSL#3, a combination probiotic, may be used as an adjuvant in active pouchitis, prevention of recurrences and maintenance of remission in pouchitis.

Impact of Concurrent Use of Probiotics on Risk of Antibiotic Associated Diarrhoea in Adults

Antibiotics are one of the most prescribed medications worldwide. It is given to treat a wide range of infections and diseases. However, usage of antibiotics is associated with several side effects. The most frequently reported side effect is diarrhoea since antibiotics affect the gastrointestinal microbial environment. Antibiotic associated diarrhoea refers to the diarrhoea that develops at the initiation of the antibiotic therapy and can extend even up to six or more weeks after termination of the therapy. The prevalence of antibiotic associated diarrhoea ranges from 5% to 39% and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Antibiotic associated diarrhoea can be caused by any antibiotic used although the risk is higher for broad-spectrum antibiotics since they primarily target anaerobes and are poorly absorbed. Probiotics aid in reducing the risk of antibiotic associated diarrhoea. The purpose of this research is to review the available information about the impact of concurrent use of probiotics on risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in adults. Various studies in the literature suggest of concurrent use of probiotics in treatment and prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea. Probiotics have been widely recommended as a robust and reliable strategy to lessen the negative effects of antibiotics on gastrointestinal function. Probiotics have a beneficial role in improving the gut health thus lowering the incidence of antibiotic associated diarrhoea if administered concurrently. Probiotics are generally well-tolerated and have minimum side effects. However more clinical research is needed to establish the guidelines for their concurrent use with antibiotic therapy to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhoea.

Probiotics for Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea: What, When, and How Long?

Probiotics have been formally defined as “live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts.” Although a range of applications has been explored for probiotics, their utility in antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is both biologically plausible and supported by abundant clinical evidence. However, the strength of evidence underlying the efficacy of specific strains and formulations for AAD varies widely. This review leverages recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews to clarify some outstanding issues on the utility of probiotics for AAD, including which strains have evidence for efficacy in AAD, what doses have been demonstrated to be effective, and the optimal duration of probiotic therapy, and provides practical guidance on how to select an appropriate product. Some trends emerged in this analysis of recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews, including: 1) Certain probiotics, such as Saccharomyces boulardii and some Lactobacilli-containing products, are consistently found to be effective for the management of AAD; 2) Dosing thresholds for efficacy exist that must be achieved through the administration of probiotics that reliably contain the labeled amounts of probiotic constituents; 3) Most effective probiotics are initiated at the same time as antibiotic therapy and continued for between 1 and 3 weeks after the cessation of therapy. These data suggest that attention must be paid to species, dose, and duration when selecting an appropriate product for patients initiating antibiotic therapy; further considerations may include the antibiotic used and the patient’s baseline risk for AAD.

Gut Ruminococcaceae levels at baseline correlate with risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

SummaryAntibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) affects a significant proportion of patients receiving antibiotics. We sought to understand if differences in the gut microbiome would influence the development of AAD. We administered a 3-day course of amoxicillin-clavulanate to 30 healthy adult volunteers, and analyzed their stool microbiome, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, at baseline and up to 4 weeks post antibiotic administration. Lower levels of gut Ruminococcaceae were significantly and consistently observed from baseline until day 7 in participants who developed AAD. Overall, participants who developed AAD experienced a greater decrease in microbial diversity. The probability of AAD could be predicted based on qPCR-derived levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii at baseline. Our findings suggest that a lack of gut Ruminococcaceae influences development of AAD. Quantification of F. prausnitzii in stool prior to antibiotic administration may help identify patients at risk of AAD, and aid clinicians in devising individualized treatment regimens to minimize such adverse effects.

A study into the effect of Lactobacillus casei Shirota in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhoea including Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with spinal cord injuries: a multicentre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BackgroundAntibiotic Associated Diarrhoea (AAD) and Clostridioides Difficile Infection (CDI) are of major concern in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation.MethodsA multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (the ECLISP) trial, was conducted in three tertiary spinal cord injury centre in the UK to assess the efficacy of consuming a probiotic beverage containing at least 6.5 × 109 live Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) in preventing AAD and CDI and in patients with SCI and to determine whether proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and under nutrition-risk are risk factors for AAD/CDI. LcS or placebo was given once daily for the duration of an antibiotic course and continued for 7 days thereafter. Follow up was set at 7 and 30 days after the antibiotic course finished. The primary outcome was occurrence of AAD up to 30 days after finishing LcS/placebo. This trial is completed and registered (ISRCTN:13119162).FindingsBetween November 2014, and November 2019, 359 consenting adult SCI patients (median age: 53.3; range: 18–88 years), from 3 SCI centres responsible for providing approximate 45–50% of UK SCI service, with a requirement for antibiotics due to infection were randomly allocated to receive LcS (n = 181) or placebo (n = 178). Overall, no statistical difference was seen in occurrence of the primary outcomes of AAD at 30 days follow up (45% v 42.1%, RR: 1.071, 0.8-1.4, p = 0.639). In the secondary analyses LcS was associated with a lower risk of AAD at 7 (19% v 35.7%, RR: 0.53, 0.29–0.99, p = 0.040) and 30 days follow up (28% v 52.2%, RR: 0.54, 0.32–0.91, p = 0.015) in the participants who took PPI regularly. Under nutrition-risk was associated with an increased risk of AAD at 7 (RR: 1.76, 1.28–2.44) and 30 days follow up (RR: 1.69, 1.30–2.0). No intervention-related adverse events were reported during the study.InterpretationThe present study indicates that LcS could not prevent AAD/CDI in unselected SCI patients. LcS might have the potential to prevent AAD in the higher risk group of patients on regular PPI. Confirmatory studies are needed to allow translation of this apparent therapeutic success into improved clinical outcomes.FundingYakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate existing evidence for the use of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) in adults.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).Data sourcesWe performed a literature search of...

Bovine Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common adverse reaction to antibiotic treatment affecting up to 21% of children. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether bovine lactoferrin (bLf) might be used for AAD prevention.Materials and Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study, we enrolled 156 children aged between 1 and 18 years, treated with antibiotic due to acute respiratory or urinary tract infection. We randomly allocated children 1:1 to receive 100 mg of bLf or a placebo twice a day orally for the whole period of antibiotic therapy. The primary outcome was the occurrence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea during and up to 2 weeks after antibiotic therapy. The secondary endpoint was intravenous rehydration or antibiotic withdrawal due to diarrhea. We performed intention-to-treat analysis.Results: We included 150 patients in intention-to-treat analysis. AAD occurred in 16 of 75 (21.3%) patients in bLf group and in 7 of 75 (9.3%) individuals in placebo group [OR = 2.6, (95% CI: 1.01–6.84), p = 0.04]. Relative risk was 2.29 (95% CI: 0.89–5.88). The need for intravenous rehydration occurred in one patient in the placebo group (p = 0.3). We observed no adverse effects in neither of the groups.Discussion: The trial indicated that bLf is not effective in AAD prevention. The risk for AAD was higher in bovine lactoferrin group as compared with placebo. We registered the study protocol on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02626104).

Probiotic Prescription Status of Pediatric Patients with Otitis Media Receiving Oral Amoxicillin or Amoxicillin/Clavulanate from April 2016 to March 2017 Using a Japanese Health Insurance Claims Database.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a typical side effect of antibiotic treatment, especially in children. Amoxicillin (AMPC) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (AMPC/CVA) are associated with high risk of AAD; however, these antibiotics are important in the pediatric field. Recent research suggests that probiotics prevent pediatric AAD, including that caused by AMPC and AMPC/CVA. Indeed, guidelines for acute otitis media in children recommend the concomitant use of probiotics. However, the prescription status of probiotics for pediatric patients with otitis media receiving oral AMPC and AMPC/CVA remains unknown. We therefore conducted a survey to clarify the current status of these prescriptions and, in particular, to identify specific populations with a low proportion of probiotic prescriptions. Pediatric patients (≤15 years of age) newly prescribed oral AMPC or AMPC/CVA for otitis media between April 2016 and March 2017 were identified from a Japanese health insurance claims database. Eligible patients were divided into the AMPC (1303 patients) and AMPC/CVA (424 patients) groups, in which 659 (50.6%) and 293 (69.1%) patients were prescribed probiotics, respectively. Of the patients receiving probiotic prescriptions in the AMPC and AMPC/CVA groups, 632 (95.9%) and 286 (97.6%) patients received antibiotic-resistant probiotic prescriptions, respectively. When classified by the prescribing clinical department and patient age, the proportions of probiotic prescriptions in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics departments were lower than those in the Otorhinolaryngology department regardless of age. These results indicate the probability of insufficient probiotic prescriptions for pediatric patients with otitis media. Solving this issue may lead to the provision of safer antimicrobial therapy.

Antibiotic prescribing and the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana: a pilot study.

This study sought to identify the association of antibiotic prescribing and the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Ghana. Patients from the Male Urology Ward and Treatment Room of the Surgical Department of KBTH were followed up over three months to determine if they had experienced any unusual diarrhoeal illness after antibiotic therapy. 81 eligible patients (adults) were included in the study but a total of 70 patients (mean age of 56.71 years) were successfully followed up during the study period. The top conditions presented by patients were urological infection (66.7%), cancer (15.3%) and leg ulcer (18.1%). Ciprofloxacin (50%) and ceftriaxone (28.5%) were the most prescribed antibiotics. Eleven patients (more than 1 in 7) developed diarrhoea that could be associated with their use of antibiotics. The occurrence of AAD was significantly associated with type of antibiotic used by patient. 73% of patients who developed symptoms of AAD had received Clindamycin. Risk of AAD was not significantly associated with age and comorbidities. The rate of AAD in the Male Urology Ward and the Treatment Room of the Surgical Department of KBTH during the period of this study was 15.7%. Clindamycin was identified as the most implicated antibiotic.

Surveys of parents and clinicians concerning the minimally important difference of probiotic therapy for prevention of paediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhoea

ObjectivesTo establish the minimally important difference (MID) that would prompt parents and clinicians to use probiotics for prevention of paediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) and to obtain parent and clinician opinion...

A multicenter randomized controlled study of Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in infants and young children

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in infants and young children. Method: From November 2012 to September 2013, ten research units of large teaching hospitals or children's hospitals participated in this multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial. Hospitalized young children aged between 1 month and 3 years (nongastrointestinal infection and antibiotic therapy required)were involved in our study. The children were randomly divided into control group and prevention group by means of block random allocation method. The control group received antibiotic therapy and other conventional treatment. The prevention group was given additional Saccharomyces boulardii (250 mg/d) orally. Diarrhea rates of two groups were compared both during the usage of antibiotics and within 14 days after the antibiotics withdrawal. The adverse reactions of Saccharomyces boulardii were observed all through this study. The results were analyzed by χ(2) test or Kruskal-Wallis test or t test. Result: Totally 408 cases (213 cases in prevention group and 195 cases in control group) were enrolled. The age ranged from 1 month to 3 years, with an average age of 1.14 years. The basic diseases were parenteral infections: 368 cases with different kinds of respiratory tract infections or pneumonia, 10 cases of bacterial meningitis, 9 cases with septicemia or sepsis, 6 cases with pertussis or pertussis like syndrome, 5 cases with urinary infection, 5 cases with skin or subcutaneous tissue infections, 3 cases of Kawasaki disease, one with scarlet fever and one with congenital syphilis. During the administration of antibiotics, the incidence of AAD in prevention group was 10.3% (22 cases), which was significantly lower than that of control group (57 cases, 29.2%, χ(2)=23.296, P<0.05). Within 14 days after the discontinuation of antibiotics, the percent of new diarrhea cases in prevention group (2.4%, 5/213) was also significantly lower than that in control group (16.4%, 32/195, χ(2)=23.4, P<0.05). Further analysis revealed that the rate of AAD in children less than or equal to 1 year old (25.1%, 52/207) was significantly higher than that of over 1 year old (13.4%, 27/201, χ(2)=8.922, P<0.05). The incidence of AAD in children treated with antibiotics for more than 5 days was 22.2%(60/270), which was significantly higher than that of less than or equal to 5 days (13.8%, 19/138, χ(2)=4.180, P<0.05). Although no significant difference was observed, the AAD rate of patients with combined use of two antibiotics was higher than that of using one. During the antibiotic therapy, compared with the control group, the risk of AAD in children under 1 year old was reduced by 52% (χ(2)=9.217, P<0.05), and 91% (χ(2)=20.35, P<0.05) in the children over 1 year old in prevention group. The risk of AAD of prevention group decreased by 66% (χ(2)=13.67, P<0.05) in patients treated with one antibiotics, and 65% in children with combined use of antibiotics (χ(2)=10.57, P<0.05). In patients treated with antibiotics for less than or equal to 5 days, the risk of AAD decreased by 74% in prevention group (χ(2)=7.38, P<0.05); and 63% if the course lasted for over 5 days (χ(2)=16.87, P<0.05). Within 14 days after the withdrawal of antibiotics, compared with the control group, the risk of diarrhea in the prevention group decreased by 82% (χ(2)=13.35, P<0.05) in infants (≤1 year old) and 93% (χ(2)=12.00, P<0.05) in children (>1 year old); the risk of diarrhea was reduced by 86% (χ(2)=9.57, P<0.05) and 87% (χ(2)=17.71, P<0.05) respectively in prevention group with single and combined use of antibiotics. In patients treated with antibiotics for more than 5 days, the risk of diarrhea in prevention group was reduced by 63% (χ(2)=22.79, P<0.05), while there was no significant difference if the antibiotics course was less than or equal to 5 days (χ(2)=2.97, P>0.05). No adverse effects related with Saccharomyces boulardii were observed in our study. Conclusion:Saccharomyces boulardii is effective and safe to prevent AAD of infants and young children both during the usage of antibiotics and up to 14 days after drug discontinuance. It can be one of the drugs of for choice prevention of AAD in infants and young children. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Tegister, ChiECRCT-2012-25.

Lebanese Registry in the Management of Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea in Children: Observational Study in Daily Practice

Background: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common complication in patients prescribed antibiotics, and represents an economic and health burden. Evidence that probiotics may be beneficial for the prevention of AAD is increasing. The aims of this registry were to assess the prevalence of probiotic prescriptions in pediatric patients for whom an antibiotic treatment regimen was prescribed, and to explore the potential health benefits that such an administration may provide. Methods: This longitudinal, multicenter, observational study enrolled 249 pediatric patients prescribed an antibiotic treatment for 5 - 14 days, with or without a concomitant probiotic. The number of probiotic-administered patients, and AAD incidence rates throughout the 15-day follow-up period, were assessed. Results: Of the 246 patients who met inclusion/exclusion criteria in Lebanon, the investigators had prescribed an additional probiotic treatment to 118 (48%) of them, while, the other 128 (52%) did not receive such additional treatment. A significantly higher number of patients in the probiotic group were at high risk of developing diarrhea (probiotic: 27.1% vs. no probiotic: 6.3%; P < 0.001). Among high risk patients, the frequency of diarrhea was doubled in the group with no probiotics (probiotic: 21.9% (n = 7) vs. no probiotic: 50.0% (n = 4); P = 0.182). Despite the significantly larger number of probiotic-administered patients that were at high risk of developing diarrhea, the proportion of patients who reported developing diarrhea was not statistically different between the two groups (probiotic: n = 22 (18.6%) vs. no probiotic: n = 24 (18.8%); P = 0.983). Conclusions: In conclusion, this Lebanese disease registry demonstrated that almost half of pediatric patients with mild to moderate infections were prescribed probiotics in combination with antibiotics to decrease the risk of AAD. This observation was particularly significant in the high risk population as per the treating physicia n’ s judgment. Int J Clin Pediatr. 2017;6(1-2):8-19 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/ijcp269w

Probiotics Reduce the Risk of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Adults (18-64 Years) but Not the Elderly (>65 Years): A Meta-Analysis.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common problem in adults and elderly patients due to the widespread use of antibiotics in this population. Multiple previous systematic reviews have demonstrated an association between specific probiotics and decrease of AAD, especially in children. As there is no specific analysis concerning the elderly patients, we decided to focus on adults, especially elderly people. We performed a systematic review of the literature regarding the use of probiotics in the treatment of AAD in adults (18-64 years old) and elderly subjects (≥65 years old). We identified 436 articles that met the search criteria. Thirty randomized controlled trials met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. There was considerable heterogeneity among the trials (P < .001); thus, subgroup analyses were performed. The meta-analysis resulted in a pooled relative risk (RR) of AAD of 0.69 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.62-0.76) in a fixed effects model and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.48-0.71) in a random effects model, as compared with placebo. The positive association between intake of probiotic and reduced risk of AAD was observed in adults (RR, 0.47; 95% CI: 0.4-0.56). In contrast, in elderly patients, there was no positive effect (RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.76-1.15) of probiotic use and AAD. In summary, the results emerging from our meta-analysis suggested that adjunct probiotic administration is associated with a reduced risk of AAD in adults but not in elderly people.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for diarrhoeal diseases in children.

Not all probiotics are equal. To investigate the efficacy of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (L. reuteri) in the management of various types of diarrhoeal diseases in children. Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, trial registries and reference lists of included studies were searched in January 2016, with no language restriction, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Eight RCTs (n = 1229) met the inclusion criteria. In treatment trials, L. reuteri administration reduced the duration of diarrhoea (three RCTs, n = 256, mean difference, MD -24.82 h, 95% CI -38.8 to -10.8) and increased the cure rate on day 1 and day 2. However, heterogeneity and wide confidence intervals call for caution in interpreting results. In preventive trials carried out in hospitalised children, based on the findings from two RCTs (n = 290), there was no significant reduction in the risk of nosocomial diarrhoea, rotavirus diarrhoea or diarrhoea of any origin with L. reuteri administration. Based on one RCT (n = 97), there was no effect of L. reuteri on the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. However, the evidence is limited because the overall frequency of diarrhoea was surprisingly low. In preventive studies carried out in apparently healthy children, L. reuteri reduced diarrhoeal outcomes in one RCT; the evidence from another trial was less convincing. In therapeutic settings, L. reuteri administration reduces the duration of diarrhoea and increases the chance of cure. In preventive settings, L. reuteri has the potential to reduce the risk of community-acquired diarrhoea in otherwise healthy children.