LACTOBACILLUS
LACTOBACILLUS GG IN THE PREVENTION OF ANTIBIOTIC-ASSOCIATED
DIARRHOEA IN CHILDREN
Outpatient use of antibiotics is common in paediatrics
but certain antibiotics, especially those with a relatively
broad spectrum, frequently result in diarrhoea. The mechanism
by which antibiotic-associated diarrhoea occurs most likely
relates to disturbances of microbial flora in the gastrointestinal
tract. Disruption of the microbial flora may result in the
overgrowth of pathogenic organisms such as Clostridium difficile
or may disturb the metabolism of carbohydrates, resulting
in malabsorption of osmotically active particles. Therefore,
a study was carried out to determine the efficacy of Lactobacillus
casei sps. Rhamnosus (Lactobacillus GG) (LGG) in reducing
the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea when co-administered
with an oral antibiotic. The study group consisted of 202
children between 6 months and 10 years of age. LGG or comparable
placebo was administered in a double-blind randomised trial
to children receiving oral antibiotics. It was found that
25 placebo-treated but only 7 LGG-treated patients had diarrhoea
as defined by liquid stools numbering 2 or greater per day.
Lactobacillus GG overall significantly reduced stool frequency
and increased stool consistency during antibiotic therapy
compared to placebo.
Vanderhoof, J.A. et al
J. PEDIATR. 1999, 135 (5) 564-8
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