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Probiotics Prevent Antibiotic-Induced C. difficile Diarrhea
Cochrane; 2017 Dec 19; Goldenberg, et al
Administering probiotics to patients taking antibiotics can prevent Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) according to a Cochrane review.
- The analysis included 31 randomized trials and over 8.600 patients taking antibiotics.
- On average, the risk of CDAD was reduced by 60% among patients taking probiotics.
- Among patients at high risk of developing CDAD—above 5%—there was a 70% reduced risk of diarrhea when taking probiotics.
- The most common adverse effects reported in clinical trials included abdominal cramps, nausea, fever, soft stools, flatulence, and abnormal taste, but the results of studies that included 8,305 patients found that probiotics do not increase the risk of side effects, when compared to controls.
- Researchers concluded that short-term use of probiotics in patients who are not immunocompromise or severely debilitated is safe and effective.
Citation:
Goldenberg JZ, Yap C, Lytvyn L, Lo C, Beardsley J, Mertz D, Johnston BC. Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. 2017, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD006095. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006095.pub4.
Commentary: