title: Lactoferrin for the prevention of post-antibiotic diarrhoea.
abstract: Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Older individuals in long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable due to multisystem illnesses and the prevailing conditions for nosocomial infections. Lactoferrin, an antimicrobial protein in human breastmilk, was tested to determine whether it would prevent or reduce AAD, including Clostridium difficile in tube-fed long-term care patients. Thirty patients were enrolled in a randomized double-blind study, testing eight weeks of human recombinant lactoferrin compared to placebo for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in long-term care patients. Fewer patients in the lactoferrin group experienced diarrhoea compared to controls (p = 0.023). Based on the findings, it is concluded that human lactoferrin may reduce post-antibiotic diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. alaffan14@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laffan
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conklin
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcinko
authors.forename: Ruchee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellantoni
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Greenough
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007781:Lactoferrin