[Influence of probiotics and fibre on the incidence of bacterial infections following major abdominal surgery - results of a prospective trial].
BACKGROUND
Early enteral nutrition with fibre and probiotics has been effective in preventing bacterial translocation and is therefore expected to reduce the incidence of postoperative bacterial infections.


METHODS
In a prospective randomized trial including 172 patients following major abdominal surgery or liver transplantation, the incidence of bacterial infections was compared in patients receiving either a) conventional parenteral or enteral nutrition, b) enteral nutrition with fibre and lactobacillus plantarum 299 or c) enteral nutrition with fibre and heat inactivated lactobacilli (placebo). Liver transplant recipients were also treated with selective bowel decontamination (SBD). Routine laboratory parameters, nutritional parameters and the cellular immune status were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 5 and 10.


RESULTS
Patients were comparable regarding preoperative ASA-classification, Child-Pugh classification of cirrhosis, operative data and immunosuppression. The incidence of bacterial infections after liver, gastric oder pancreas resection was 31 % in the conventional group a) compared to 4 % in the lactobacillus-group b) and 13 % in the placebo-group c). In the analysis of 95 liver transplant recipients, 13 % group b)-patients developed infections compared to 48 % group a)-patients and 34 % group c)-patients. The difference between groups a) and b) was statistically significant in both cases. In addition, the duration of antibiotic therapy was significantly shorter in the lactobacillus-group. Cholangitis and pneumonia were the most frequent infections and enterococci the most frequently isolated bacteria. Fibre and lactobacilli were well tolerated in most cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibre and probiotics could lower the incidence of bacterial infections following major abdominal surgery in comparison to conventional nutrition with or without SBD. With this new concept, costs can be reduced by shortening the duration of antibiotic therapy and sparing SBD.
Rayes
N
N
Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Charité Campus Virchow, Augustenburger Platz l, 13355 Berlin, Germany. nada.rayes@charite.de
Seehofer
D
D
Müller
A R
AR
Hansen
S
S
Bengmark
S
S
Neuhaus
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001430:Bacteriocins; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001430:Bacteriocins; D004043:Dietary Fiber; C417164:plantaricin UG1