Probiotics in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in children.


METHODS
The following electronic databases up to December 2005, in any language, were searched for studies relevant to AAD and probiotics: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) were considered for study inclusion.


RESULTS
Six placebo-controlled, RCTs (766 children) were included. Treatment with probiotics compared with placebo reduced the risk of AAD from 28.5% to 11.9% (relative risk, RR, 0.44, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.77, random effect model). Preplanned subgroup analysis showed that reduction of the risk of AAD was associated with the use of Lactobacillus GG (2 RCTs, 307 participants, RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.6), S. boulardii (1 RCT, 246 participants, RR 0.2, 95% CI 0.07-0.6), or B. lactis & Str. thermophilus (1 RCT, 157 participants, RR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.95).


CONCLUSIONS
Probiotics reduce the risk of AAD in children. For every 7 patients that would develop diarrhea while being treated with antibiotics, one fewer will develop AAD if also receiving probiotics.
Szajewska
Hania
H
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The Medical University of Warsaw, 01-184 Warsaw, Dzialdowska 1, Poland. hania@ipgate.pl
Ruszczyński
Marek
M
Radzikowski
Andrzej
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001407:Bacillus; D002648:Child; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012440:Saccharomyces; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents