Antimicrobial activity of a multispecies probiotic (Ecologic 641) against pathogens isolated from infected pancreatic necrosis.
OBJECTIVE
Although probiotic prophylaxis has been suggested to prevent small bowel bacterial overgrowth, bacterial translocation and infection of pancreatic necrosis in severe acute pancreatitis, limited data are available on their antimicrobial activity.


RESULTS
Using the well-diffusion method, we studied the antimicrobial properties of a multispecies probiotic product (Ecologic 641) against a collection of pathogens cultured from infected pancreatic necrosis. All individual probiotic strains included in the multispecies preparation were able to inhibit the growth of the pathogens to some extent. However, the combination of the individual strains (i.e. the multispecies preparation) was able to inhibit all pathogenic isolates. Probiotic-free supernatants adjusted to pH 7 were not able to inhibit pathogen growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Ecologic 641 is capable of inhibiting growth of a wide variety of pathogens isolated from infected pancreatic necrosis. The antimicrobial properties are to a large extent explained by the production of organic acids.


CONCLUSIONS
Ecologic 641 is currently being used in a Dutch nationwide double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized multicentre trial in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis.
Ridwan
B U
BU
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. b.ridwan@westfriesgasthuis.nl
Koning
C J M
CJ
Besselink
M G H
MG
Timmerman
H M
HM
Brouwer
E C
EC
Verhoef
J
J
Gooszen
H G
HG
Akkermans
L M A
LM
D000143:Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000898:Antibiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010179:Pancreas / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000382:microbiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000143:Acids