Feasibility and tolerability of probiotics for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in hospitalized US military veterans.
BACKGROUND
Probiotics may be efficacious for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The tolerability and acceptability of probiotics in an elderly US veteran population has not been assessed.


OBJECTIVE
To undertake a randomized trial to determine the tolerability and acceptability of a probiotic, Florajen in an elderly population with multiple comorbidities.


METHODS
Pilot randomized double-blind trial comparing a probiotic, Florajen to placebo for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in elderly hospitalized patients receiving antibiotics.


RESULTS
Forty patients were enrolled and randomized. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea occurred in 6/16 (37%) in the placebo group and 4/23 (17%) patients in the Florajen group, (RR 1.63, 95% CI 0.73-3.65, P = 0.15). Florajen was well tolerated in the study population with no major side effects that necessitated discontinuation.


CONCLUSIONS
In this pilot study, Florajen was well tolerated in an elderly population, all of whom were taking several other medications. A larger study is needed to determine the effect of Florajen on antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and Clostridium difficile infection.
Safdar
N
N
Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Wisconsin Medical School, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA. ns2@medicine.wisc.edu
Barigala
R
R
Said
A
A
McKinley
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents