title: Randomised clinical trial: a Lactobacillus GG and micronutrient-containing mixture is effective in reducing nosocomial infections in children, vs. placebo.
abstract: Nosocomial infections are a major public health issue and preventative strategies using probiotics and micronutrients are being evaluated.
  
  
  
  To investigate the efficacy of a mixture of Lactobacillus GG and micronutrients in preventing nosocomial infections in children.
  
  
  
  A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in hospitalised children. Children (6 months to 5 years of age) received Lactobacillus GG (6 × 10(9) CFU/day) together with vitamins B and C and zinc or placebo, for 15 days, starting on the first day of hospitalisation. The incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory nosocomial infections after discharge was determined by follow-up telephone call at 7 days. After 3 months, another telephone call estimated the incidence of further infections during follow-up.
  
  
  
  Ninety children completed the follow-up. Of 19/90 children with a nosocomial infection (20%), 4/45 children (9%) were in the treatment group and 15/45 (33%) in the placebo group (P = 0.016). Specifically, 2/45 (4%) children in the treatment group vs. 11/45 (24%) children in the placebo group (P = 0.007) presented with diarrhoea. The duration of hospitalisation was significantly shorter in the treatment group (3.9 days ± 1.7 vs. 4.9 ± 1.2; P = 0.003). At the follow-up, a total of 11/45 (24.4%) children in the treatment group had at least one episode of infection compared to 22/45 (48.9%) in the placebo group (P = 0.016).
  
  
  
  A mixture containing Lactobacillus GG and micronutrients may reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections, supporting the hypothesis that this may represent a valid strategy to prevent nosocomial infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruzzese
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruzzese
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viscovo
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannattasio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, AORN Santobono-Pausilipon, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mandato
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, AORN Santobono-Pausilipon, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siani
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarino
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D010919:Placebos; D015032:Zinc