In the past decade, many studies have been conducted to investigate the role of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of disease, with mixed results being reported on the efficacy of probiotics11. In addition, probiotics have become increasingly popular with more and more probiotic products released on the market every year. Specifically, they are available as capsules and dairy based food supplements (especially yogurt) sold in health food stores and supermarkets. Despite the many health claims made on product packaging and advertisements, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has not approved probiotics for the treatment of any condition or disease, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Trials investigating the use of probiotics to prevent AAD in children are fewer in number. Furthermore, some of the pediatric trials have methodological problems and are unable to provide conclusions, whereas others have heterogeneous results despite similar study designs. Therefore, the efficacy of probiotics in preventing AAD in children is unclear. Since antibiotics are prescribed frequently in children and AAD is common in this population, it is important to determine. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of probiotics (of any specified strain or dose) for the prevention of AAD in …show more content…
To be included, a study must have reported the AAD or CDI (or both) as an outcome. Studies investigating probiotics to prevent CDI recurrence in patients with a previous diagnosis of CDI, probiotics to prevent CDI in adult populations, and probiotics used to treat diarrhea from non-antibiotic related causes such as radiation or rotavirus were excluded. Pilot trials of feasibility, tolerability, or cost were also excluded because they did not define AAD or CDI incidence as outcomes of interest. Finally, studies presented only at conferences, and non-randomized comparison and cohort studies were also excluded. Letters, reviews, commentaries, and editorials were excluded if they did not contain original data. Fifteen studies met selection criteria. The evidence table (see appendix) compiles all included studies; the specific probiotic used and the result of the trial is
Trials investigating the use of probiotics to prevent AAD in children are fewer in number. Furthermore, some of the pediatric trials have methodological problems and are unable to provide conclusions, whereas others have heterogeneous results despite similar study designs. Therefore, the efficacy of probiotics in preventing AAD in children is unclear. Since antibiotics are prescribed frequently in children and AAD is common in this population, it is important to determine. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of probiotics (of any specified strain or dose) for the prevention of AAD in …show more content…
To be included, a study must have reported the AAD or CDI (or both) as an outcome. Studies investigating probiotics to prevent CDI recurrence in patients with a previous diagnosis of CDI, probiotics to prevent CDI in adult populations, and probiotics used to treat diarrhea from non-antibiotic related causes such as radiation or rotavirus were excluded. Pilot trials of feasibility, tolerability, or cost were also excluded because they did not define AAD or CDI incidence as outcomes of interest. Finally, studies presented only at conferences, and non-randomized comparison and cohort studies were also excluded. Letters, reviews, commentaries, and editorials were excluded if they did not contain original data. Fifteen studies met selection criteria. The evidence table (see appendix) compiles all included studies; the specific probiotic used and the result of the trial is