Probiotics in prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea: meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate efficacy of probiotics in prevention and treatment of diarrhoea associated with the use of antibiotics.


METHODS
Meta-analysis; outcome data (proportion of patients not getting diarrhoea) were analysed, pooled, and compared to determine odds ratios in treated and control groups.


METHODS
Studies identified by searching Medline between 1966 and 2000 and the Cochrane Library. Studies reviewed Nine randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials of probiotics.


RESULTS
Two of the nine studies investigated the effects of probiotics in children. Four trials used a yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii), four used lactobacilli, and one used a strain of enterococcus that produced lactic acid. Three trials used a combination of probiotic strains of bacteria. In all nine trials, the probiotics were given in combination with antibiotics and the control groups received placebo and antibiotics. The odds ratio in favour of active treatment over placebo in preventing diarrhoea associated with antibiotics was 0.39 (95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.62; P<0.001) for the yeast and 0.34 (0.19 to 0.61; P<0.01 for lactobacilli. The combined odds ratio was 0.37 (0.26 to 0.53; P<0.001) in favour of active treatment over placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
The meta-analysis suggests that probiotics can be used to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhoea and that S boulardii and lactobacilli have the potential to be used in this situation. The efficacy of probiotics in treating antibiotic associated diarrhoea remains to be proved. A further large trial in which probiotics are used as preventive agents should look at the costs of and need for routine use of these agents.
D'Souza
Aloysius L
AL
Care of the Elderly Section, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN. aloysius.dsouza@ic.ac.uk
Rajkumar
Chakravarthi
C
Cooke
Jonathan
J
Bulpitt
Christopher J
CJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents