title: Effect of synbiotic therapy on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia in critically ill patients: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of enteral Synbiotic 2000 FORTE (a mixture of lactic acid bacteria and fibre) on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral centre, general Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  259 enterally fed patients requiring mechanical ventilation for 48 h or more were enrolled.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were enterally fed as per a standard protocol and randomly assigned to receive either synbiotic 2000 FORTE (twice a day) or a cellulose-based placebo for a maximum of 28 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment group (n = 130) was well matched with placebo group (n = 129) for age (mean 49.5 and 50 years, respectively) and APACHE II score (median 17 for both). Oropharyngeal microbial flora and colonisation rates were unaffected by synbiotics. The overall incidence of VAP was lower than anticipated (11.2%) and no statistical difference was demonstrated between groups receiving synbiotic and placebo in the incidence of VAP (9 and 13%, P = 0.42), VAP rate per 1,000 ventilator days (13 and 14.6, P = 0.91) or hospital mortality (27 and 33%, P = 0.39), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enteral administration of Synbiotic 2000 FORTE has no statistically significant impact on the incidence of VAP in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David J W
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Snape
authors.forename: Vivienne C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Stig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bengmark
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Girling
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005936:Glucans