title: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in the middle ear after randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled oral administration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Probiotics may have potency in reducing upper respiratory infections, in particular in children. We studied findings from middle ear effusion (MEE) samples after randomized, placebo-controlled 3-week oral administration of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (L.
  40 children referred to tympanostomy were randomized to receive either L. GG or placebo (1:1) for 3 weeks before surgery. MEE samples were collected from 13 children (in total, 25 samples, 19 from the L. GG group and 6 from the placebo group) and analyzed for L. GG and pathogenic bacterial and viral findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  L. GG was present in 5 of the 25 MEE samples (4 from the L. GG group). Haemophilus infuenzae was the most prominent pathogen in 12 samples (10 from the L. GG group). Rhinovirus was present in 12 samples (10 from the L. GG group) and enterovirus in 1 sample (L. GG group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L. GG was present in the middle ear of children suffering from otitis media with effusion, but did not reduce the presence of pathogenic bacteria or viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, PO Box 220, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: laura.k.tapiovaara@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tapiovaara
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Medical Nutrition Physiology, PO Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: liisa.lehtoranta@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehtoranta
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, PO Box 220, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: elisa.swanljung@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swanljung
authors.affiliation: Valio Limited, PO Box 10, Valio, FI-00039 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: harri.makivuokko@valio.fi.
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mäkivuokko
authors.affiliation: Mobidiag Limited, Keilaranta 16A, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland. Electronic address: sanna.laakso@mobidiag.com.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laakso
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit, Division of Health Protection, Department of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), PO Box 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: merja.roivainen@thl.fi.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roivainen
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Medical Nutrition Physiology, PO Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: riitta.korpela@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korpela
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, PO Box 220, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: anne.pitkaranta@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pitkäranta
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000382:microbiology; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D006801:Humans; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
keywords: Children; Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG; Middle ear effusion; Otitis media; Probiotics; Tympanostomy