Prevention of traveler's diarrhea by the tablet form of bismuth subsalicylate.
In a randomized double-blind study, Swiss adults traveling to tropical countries for 12 to 28 days took a solid formulation of bismuth subsalicylate (1.05 or 2.1 g/day on a twice-daily regimen) or placebo. Efficacy was evaluated in 231 volunteers. Diarrheal incidence was reduced by 41% in persons taking the high dose (P = 0.007) and by 35% in those taking the low dose (P = 0.03) with excellent compliance. No serious adverse reactions occurred, but objectionable taste, constipation, and nausea were seen more frequently with active medication (P = 0.04). Twenty patients provided stool samples: no bacteria were detected in the 8 volunteers who were on active medication, but various bacteria were found in 5 of the 12 patients who had taken placebo (P = 0.04).
D001729:Bismuth / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012459:Salicylates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012762:Shigella dysenteriae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013607:Tablets; D014195:Travel
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012459:Salicylates; D013607:Tablets; C015715:bismuth subsalicylate; D001729:Bismuth