title: Three-combination probiotics therapy in children with salmonella and rotavirus gastroenteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quantitative Vesikari scales and qualitative severe diarrhea (Vesikari scale ≥11) assessments were used to grade the Salmonella-induced and rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis severity. A significant reduction in severe diarrhea (Vesikari score ≥11) was used to evaluate the efficacy of three-combination probiotics (BIO-THREE).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Several studies have shown that rotavirus and Salmonella infections are the leading causes of infectious gastroenteritis. Although probiotics have been effective in some studies, the use of 3-combination formulation probiotics is rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  This single-center, open-label, randomized, controlled trial included 159 patients (age range, 3 mo to 14 y) hospitalized with infectious gastroenteritis between February 2009 and October 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were grouped according to the pathogen identified (48, Salmonella; 42, rotavirus; and 69, unknown origin). The total diarrhea duration was significantly shorter for children who received BIO-THREE (P<0.0001). After BIO-THREE administration, there were significantly less intervention group patients with severe diarrhea at intervention day 3. Vesikari scale or diarrhea frequency results did not reveal significant differences between groups (except for day 5 in patients with rotavirus), and there were no significant changes in other clinical parameters or the length of hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seven-day BIO-THREE administration demonstrated high efficacy and safety in infants and children with severe gastroenteritis. The incidence of severe gastroenteritis was significantly reduced in the rotavirus origin and BIO-THREE intervention groups.
authors: *Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung †School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei ‡Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Yung-Feng
authors: YF
authors: Huang
authors: Po-Yen
authors: PY
authors: Liu
authors: Ying-Yao
authors: YY
authors: Chen
authors: Bao-Ren
authors: BR
authors: Nong
authors: I-Fei
authors: IF
authors: Huang
authors: Kai-Sheng
authors: KS
authors: Hsieh
authors: Kow-Tong
authors: KT
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome