title: Probiotics for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.
abstract: The combination of a proton pump inhibitor and two antibiotics (clarithromycin plus amoxicillin or metronidazole) has been the recommended first-line therapy since the first guidelines for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children were published. In recent years, the success of eradication therapies has declined, in part due to the development of H. pylori resistant strains. Alternative anti-H. pylori treatments are currently becoming more popular than the traditional eradication methods. Components that may be used either as a monotherapy or, in combination with antimicrobials, resulting in a more effective anti-H. pylori therapy have been investigated in depth by several researchers. One of the potential therapies is probiotic cultures; promising results have been observed in initial studies with numerous probiotic strains. Nevertheless, many questions remain unanswered. In this article, we comprehensively review the possible mechanisms of action of probiotics on H. pylori infection, and present the results of published studies using probiotics as possible agents to control H. pylori infection in children. The effect of the addition of probiotics to the standard H. pylori eradication therapy for the prevention of antibiotic associated side-effects is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Lucia Pacifico, Sara Romaggioli, Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 324 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pacifico
authors.affiliation: Lucia Pacifico, Sara Romaggioli, Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 324 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: John Frederick
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.affiliation: Lucia Pacifico, Sara Romaggioli, Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 324 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonci
authors.affiliation: Lucia Pacifico, Sara Romaggioli, Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 324 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romaggioli
authors.affiliation: Lucia Pacifico, Sara Romaggioli, Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 324 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: Lucia Pacifico, Sara Romaggioli, Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 324 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiesa
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Children; Eradication treatment; Helicobacter pylori; Prevention; Probiotics