Metchnikoff and the centenary of probiotics: an update of their use in gastroenteric pathology during the age of development.
Acute gastroenteritis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, diarrhea due to Clostridium difficile and traveller's diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori infection and intestinal inflammatory diseases are primitive and/or secondary pathological conditions that alter the intestinal mucosa and microbiota. For years researchers have searched for solutions to restore and rebalance normal transit and intestinal flora. Elia Metchnikoff was the first one to introduce oral bacteriotherapy, that uses very efficient microorganisms that prevent putrefaction and aging. Oral bacteriotherapy has now evolved in probiotics, whose helpful action to prevent and treat some gastroenteric pathologies is currently being studied.
Caramia
G
G
Emeritus Head of Neonatology and Pediatric Department, Specialized Pediatric Hospital G. Salesi, Ancona, Italy. caramiagm@libero.it
D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000628:therapy; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000628:therapy; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000628:therapy; D005602:France; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000628:therapy*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007778:Lactobacillus; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019936:Probiotics / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012425:Russia (Pre-1917)