Bifidobacterium longum PL03, Lactobacillus rhamnosus KL53A, and Lactobacillus plantarum PL02 in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a randomized controlled pilot trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of a combination of Bifidobacterium longum PL03, Lactobacillus rhamnosus KL53A and Lactobacillus plantarum PL02 for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children.


METHODS
Seventy-eight children (age: 5 months to 16 years) with otitis media, and/or respiratory tract infections, and/or urinary tract infections were enrolled in a double-blind randomized control trial in which they received standard antibiotic treatment plus a food supplement containing 10(8) colony-forming units of B. longum, L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum (n = 40) or a placebo (n = 38) orally twice daily for the duration of antibiotic treatment.


RESULTS
Patients receiving probiotics had a similar rate of diarrhea (> or =3 loose or watery stools/day for > or =48 h occurring during or up to 2 weeks after the antibiotic therapy) as those receiving placebo (relative risk 0.5, 95% CI 0.06-3.5). The mean number of stools per day was significantly lower in the experimental group (mean difference -0.3 stool/day, 95% CI -0.5 to -0.07). No adverse events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of the 3 probiotics did not significantly alter the rate of diarrhea, although it reduced the frequency of stools per day. As the overall frequency of diarrhea was surprisingly low, these results should be interpreted with caution.
Szymański
Henryk
H
Department of Pediatrics, St. Hedwig of Silesia Hospital, Trzebnica, Poland.
Armańska
Małgorzata
M
Kowalska-Duplaga
Kinga
K
Szajewska
Hania
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents