title: Effect of probiotic Lactobacillus (Lacidofil® cap) for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study.
abstract: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common complication of antibiotic use. There is growing interest in probiotics for the treatment of AAD and Clostridium difficile infection because of the wide availability of probiotics. The aim of this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was to assess the efficacy of probiotic Lactobacillus (Lacidofil® cap) for the prevention of AAD in adults. From September 2008 to November 2009, a total of 214 patients with respiratory tract infection who had begun receiving antibiotics were randomized to receive Lactobacillus (Lacidofil® cap) or placebo for 14 days. Patients recorded bowel frequency and stool consistency daily for 14 days. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who developed AAD within 14 days of enrollment. AAD developed in 4 (3.9%) of 103 patients in the Lactobacillus group and in 8 (7.2%) of 111 patients in the placebo group (P=0.44). However, the Lactobacillus group showed lower change in bowel frequency and consistency (50/103, 48.5%) than the placebo group (35/111, 31.5%) (P=0.01). Although the Lacidofil® cap does not reduce the rate of occurrence of AAD in adult patients with respiratory tract infection who have taken antibiotics, the Lactobacillus group maintains their bowel habits to a greater extent than the placebo group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jin-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Ae
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Seong-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yoolwon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sung Pil
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jae Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyo-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byong Duk
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Suk-Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sang-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hyun-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents