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Abstract

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is the most common adverse effect of antibiotic therapy. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of a dietary supplement of yogurt for prevention of AAD. Two hundred two hospitalized patients receiving oral or intravenous antibiotics were randomized to receive or not receive a dietary yogurt supplement, consisting of 227 grams of commercial yogurt, and followed for 8 days. Mean age of the study group was 70 years and 43% were male. Compliance and 8-day follow-up were 85% and 91%, respectively. Patients receiving yogurt reported less frequent diarrhea (12% vs 24%; P = 0.04), and significantly less total diarrhea] days (23 vs 60). The cumulative proportions of patients without diarrhea were significantly different (P = 0.02) between patients receiving and not receiving yogurt. For conclusion, dietary supplementation with yogurt is a simple, effective, and safe treatment that decreases the incidence and duration of AAD.

Can probiotic yogurt prevent diarrhoea in children on antibiotics? A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study

“…20 Symptoms of increased frequency or liquid consistency may cause premature termination of antibiotic therapy, missed days from school or day care and, by association, lost days of work for parents/carers. 28 Definitions of diarrhoea in earlier studies have varied; some using two or more loose stools/day, 2 13 some using three or more loose stools/day, 4 11 12 15 19 21 25 29 and another using more than three times normal frequency. 14 In general, studies have failed to specify their criteria for loose stools 2 4 11 15 19 21 25 29 or created their own definition.…”

“… 1 These changes often present as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD), which is distressing to both patients and carers and may result in poor compliance with antibiotic therapy. 2 The frequency of AAD depends on the definition of diarrhoea and the age of the patient but is estimated to be between 11% and 30% for children on oral antibiotics. 3 4 …”

“… 7–10 A number of methods have been used to administer these probiotics, including capsules, tablets and yogurts. 2 4 11 12 The organisms used vary from a single species 13 14 to multi-species cocktails, 2 15 and the doses vary between studies, from 10 7 to 10 10 colony-forming units (CFU). 7 …”

“…Additionally, researchers have used different definitions of diarrhoea with differences in what frequency (two or three times a day for two consecutive days) constitutes diarrhoea, and the term ‘loose’ has not always been quantified. 2 4 14 15 21 Although each study will be internally consistent, the different definitions do not allow for the comparison of absolute rates between different studies. Consequently, we have presented our results with a range of diarrhoea definitions, permitting a better understanding of both disease severity and comparison with previous work.…”

Clostridium butyricumCombined withBifidobacterium infantisProbiotic Mixture Restores Fecal Microbiota and Attenuates Systemic Inflammation in Mice with Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

“…As a common complication of most types of antibiotics, AAD affects variety of populations including outpatients, hospitalized patients, and residents of long-term care facilities and results in extended hospital stays, increased medical care costs, and increased diagnostic procedures [ 1 , 19 ]. Beniwal et al have considered that AAD pathogenesis may be related to altered short-chain fatty acids in the intestine, functional disturbance of carbohydrate, and bile acid metabolism due to alteration of the microbiota or toxic effects on the intestinal mucosa and pharmacological effect on motility [ 3 , 20 ]. So far, there are no other current effective preventive measures for AAD, except for discontinuing the inciting antibiotic or switching to an antibiotic with a narrower spectrum of action.…”