Probiotics versus antibiotic decontamination of the digestive tract: infection and mortality.
OBJECTIVE
Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) has been shown to decrease the infection rate and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs); Lactobacillus plantarum 299/299v plus fibre (LAB) has been used for infection prevention and does not harbour the potential disadvantages of antibiotics. The objective was to assess whether LAB is not inferior to SDD in infection prevention.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty-four consecutive ICU patients with expected mechanical ventilation ≥ 48 h and/or expected ICU stay ≥ 72 h were assigned to receive SDD: four times daily an oral paste (polymyxin E, gentamicin, amphotericin B), enteral solution (same antibiotics), intravenous cefotaxime (first 4 days) or LAB: two times daily L. plantarum 299/299v with rose-hip.


RESULTS
The primary endpoint was infection rate. A difference <12% between both groups indicated non-inferiority of LAB. The trial was prematurely stopped after a study reporting increased mortality in critically ill pancreatitis patients receiving probiotics. No significant difference in infection rate [31% in the LAB group, 24% in the SDD group (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.91-3.08; p = 0.10)] was found. ICU mortality was 26% and not significantly different between the LAB and SDD groups. Gram-positive cocci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were significantly more frequently isolated from surveillance cultures in the SDD group compared to the LAB group (for sputum: 18 vs. 10% and 33 vs. 14%). Significantly more Enterobacteriaceae were found in the LAB group (23 vs. 50%). No increase in antibiotic resistance was found during and after SDD or LAB use.


CONCLUSIONS
The trial could not demonstrate the non-inferiority of LAB compared with SDD in infection prevention. Results suggest no increased ICU mortality risk in the LAB group.
Oudhuis
Guy J
GJ
Department of Medical Microbiology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Bergmans
Dennis C
DC
Dormans
Tom
T
Zwaveling
Jan-Harm
JH
Kessels
Alfons
A
Prins
Martin H
MH
Stobberingh
Ellen E
EE
Verbon
Annelies
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents