SUMMARY AimTo review evidence for the effectiveness of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) in treating acute infectious diarrhoea in children. MethodsThe following electronic databases were searched through August 2006 for studies relevant to acute infectious diarrhoea and LGG: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library; additional references were obtained from reviewed articles. Only randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) were included. ResultsEight RCTs (988 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Compared with controls, LGG had no effect on the total stool volume (two RCTs, n = 303). However, LGG was associated with a significant reduction in diarrhoea duration (seven RCTs, 876 infants, weighted mean difference, WMD )1.1 days (95% confidence interval, CI )1.9 to )0.3), particularly of rotavirus etiology (WMD )2.1 days, 95% CI )3.6 to )0.6), risk of diarrhoea >7 days (one RCT, n = 287, relative risk 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.75) and duration of hospitalization (three RCTs, n = 535, WMD )0.58, 95% CI )0.8 to )0.4; significance was lost in the random effect model). There was no reduction in the number of stools at any time interval. ConclusionsThe use of LGG is associated with moderate clinical benefits in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the important methodological limitations and heterogeneity of most of the studies.

SUMMARY BackgroundThe efficacy of each probiotic should be evaluated separately. Previously, we have shown that Lactobacillus GG (LGG) is effective in treating acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children.

Background:Recently, evidence from a large randomised controlled trial (RCT) negated efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for treating acute gastroenteritis in children.Aim: To review RCTs in which L rhamnosus GG was used to treat acute gastroenteritis in children. Methods:The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases were searched from May 2013 (end of last search) to January 2019. The primary outcomes were stool volume and duration of diarrhoea.Results: Eighteen RCTs (n = 4208) were included. Compared with placebo or no treatment, L rhamnosus GG use had no effect on stool volume but was associated with a reduced duration of diarrhoea (15 RCTs, n = 3820, mean difference, MD −0.85 day, 95% CI −1.15 to −0.56). L rhamnosus GG was effective when used at a daily dose of ≥10 10 CFU or <10 10 CFU; however, the latter produced results of borderline significance. L rhamnosus GG was more effective when used in European countries compared with non-European countries, particularly when considered by region.L rhamnosus GG use was associated with a reduced duration of hospitalisation. One RCT found that L rhamnosus GG had no effect on the total clinical severity score at 14 days after enrolment. Conclusions:Despite a recent large RCT demonstrating no effect of L rhamnosus GG, current evidence shows that, overall, L rhamnosus GG reduced both the duration of diarrhoea (with a higher impact in European countries) and hospitalisation in inpatients. These findings should be viewed in the context of the high heterogeneity and methodological limitations of the included trials. | 1377SZAJEWSKA Et Al.

In therapeutic settings, L. reuteri administration reduces the duration of diarrhoea and increases the chance of cure. In preventive settings, L. reuteri has the potential to reduce the risk of community-acquired diarrhoea in otherwise healthy children.

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