Infection by Klebsiella pneumonia producing class A carbapenemases is a major clinical and public health problem in Israel and worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of alteration of the gut microflora by probiotics, alone or in combination with mechanical bowel cleansing, as a strategy to eradicate colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by CRKP. We hypothesize that administration of probiotics will decrease the rate of GI colonization by CRKP.
CRKP colonization will be determined by culture and PCR of rectal swabs. The study will include 3 arms - no intervention, probiotics and mechanical bowel cleansing + probiotics. Followup examination of rectal swab samples for the presence of CRKP will be performed at 4 weeks and 12 weeks from study entry.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
A probiotic preparation.
Oral ingestion of 3 liters of polyethylene glycol solution.
Hadassah Medical Organization
Jerusalem, Israel
A negative stool culture for Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumonia.
Time frame: 4 weeks.
A negative stool culture and/or PCR assay for CRKP at twelve weeks after initiation of probiotics (i.e - 8 weeks after cessation of probiotic treatment).
Time frame: 12 weeks beginning of intervention.
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