title: The Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v on the Incidence of Clostridium difficile Infection in High Risk Patients Treated with Antibiotics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (LP299v) has been used in order to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms during antibiotic exposure. However, it remains controversial whether or not probiotics are effective in the prevention of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) among patients receiving antibiotics. The aim of this study was to analyze the CDI among patients receiving antibiotics and hospitalized in the period before and after starting routine use of LP299v as a prevention of this infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 3533 patients hospitalized in the nephrology and transplantation ward during a two-year period, 23 patients with CDI were diagnosed and enrolled in this retrospective study. Since November 2013, prevention of CDI with oral use of LP299v was performed in all patients treated with antibiotics and who were at a high risk of developing CDI. The observation period was divided into two twelve-month intervals before and after initiation of the use of LP299v as a prophylactic against CDI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant (p = 0.0001) reduction of the number of cases of CDI was found after routinely using LP299v (n = 2; 0.11% of all hospitalized patients) compared with the previous twelve-month period of observation (n = 21; 1.21% of all hospitalized patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine use of LP299v during treatment with antibiotics may prevent C. difficile infection in the nephrology and transplantation ward.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Medicine in Katowice, Katowice 40-027, Poland. agata.szewieczek@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kujawa-Szewieczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Medicine in Katowice, Katowice 40-027, Poland. madamczak1@op.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Medicine in Katowice, Katowice 40-027, Poland. kapril@go2.pl.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kwiecień
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Medicine in Katowice, Katowice 40-027, Poland. sylwia.dudzicz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dudzicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Medicine in Katowice, Katowice 40-027, Poland. m.gazda88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gazda
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Medicine in Katowice, Katowice 40-027, Poland. awiecek@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Więcek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Lactobacillus plantarum 299v; kidney and pancreas transplantation; kidney transplantation; liver transplantation; nephrology and transplantation ward