Probiotic treatment for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in geriatric patients: a multicentre randomised controlled pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate effectiveness of probiotic supplementation in reducing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD).


METHODS
A double-blind randomised controlled trial (registration number: ACTRN 12609000429257); with primary outcome prevention of AAD and secondary outcome reduction in diarrhoea duration, patients were randomised to receive probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus casei, Shirota strain or placebo.


RESULTS
Eighty-seven people (66-101 years old) were recruited to the study during their admission to the Geriatric Evaluation Management wards during August-October 2009. 41 received the active Yakult (Yakult Australia Pty Ltd, Dandenong South, Victoria, Australia) (12.2% diarrhoea) and 46 received placebo (8.7% diarrhoea). There was no significant difference in diarrhoea between the groups, Fisher's exact test, P = 0.729. The mean diarrhoea duration was 4 and 5 days for those administered Yakult and placebo, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant difference between groups. However, we noted a low prevalence of AAD and this affects the sample size that will be required for any future study examining a beneficial effect of probiotic supplementation.
Townsville Hospital, Geriatric Department, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
Kelly
K
Wright
Heathcote
H
Wright
Michael
M
Murray
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
aged; antibiotic; diarrhoea; patient; probiotic