Probiotic Lactobacillus Reuteri to Prevent Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea and Clostridium Difficile-related Infections in Hospitalized Children

St Marina University Hospital, Varna, Bulgaria100 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine if the daily intake of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri prevents antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and related Clostridium difficile infections in children and adolescents.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) occurs in up to 25% of all individuals receiving antibiotics (Bartlett, 2002). In hospitalized patients, AAD is related to significant increases in mortality, length of stay, and cost of medical care (McFarland, 2006). Twenty-nine percent of hospitalized patients may develop diarrhoea after antibiotic use; therefore, identifying strategies to minimize antibiotic-associated diarrhoea could be of significant medical and economic advantage (McFarland, 1998). A promising tool in this area is the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea Clostridium Difficile Infection Gastroenteritis

Interventions

L reuteri in children on antibioticsDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Each patient will be assigned to receive either a probiotic supplement containing 1 x 10 8 CFU Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in the form of one chewable tablet once per day (BioGaia AB, Stockholm, Sweden) or placebo, identical in taste and appearance. The probiotic or placebo will be taken 2 hours after lunch each day, during the entire period of antibiotic treatment and for an additional 7 days.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 YearsMax age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 3 - 18 years of age * Receiving antibiotics for not more than 48 hours prior to enrolment and free from diarrhoea * The signed informed consent by one/both parents / legal guardian and by the subject if she/he is 12 years or older * Available throughout the study period * No use of any other probiotic products during the study period (Bulgarian yoghurt without added probiotics can be used) * Subject or parents/guardian should have the mental ability to understand and willingness to fulfil all the details of the protocol Exclusion Criteria: * Three or more soft and unformed or watery stools per day at admission * Receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy * Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease * Enteral or parenteral nutrition only * Requiring care in an intensive care unit * Status post-bowel resection during hospitalization * Receiving antibiotics four weeks prior to hospitalization * Patient with severe life threatening illness or immunocompromised (HIV/AIDS, cancer, genetic disorders including cystic fibrosis, children with opportunistic infections, metabolic diseases) * Pregnancy * Lack of possibility to store the study product in a temperature below 25°C during the hot season of the year

Locations (2)

St Marina University Hospital

Varna, Bulgaria

Department of Pediatrics at St Marina University Hospital, Varna

Varna, Bulgaria

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

To assess if the probiotic L. reuteri is effective in preventing AAD in children

Incidence of diarrhea during and after treatment with antibiotics in patients ingesting L. reuteri versus placebo during the study period, measured as mean number of episodes per patient. An episode of diarrhea is defined as three or more (≥ 3) soft and unformed or watery bowel movements per day for at least 48 hours.

Time frame: 2 years

Secondary Outcomes

Incidence of mild diarrhea and severity if diarrhea in children with probiotic treatment

Incidence of mild diarrhoea during and after treatment with antibiotics in patients ingesting L. reuteri versus placebo during the study period is measured as mean number of episodes per patient. An episode of mild diarrhoea is defined as any soft and unformed or watery bowel movements not fulfilling the definition of AAD.

Time frame: 2 years

Severity of diarrhoea in patients ingesting L. reuteri versus placebo

Severity of diarrhoea in patients ingesting L. reuteri versus placebo is measured as the total number of soft and unformed or watery bowel movements during an episode of diarrhoea and the presence of blood and mucus in faeces.

Time frame: 2 years

Frequency of stool samples positive for C. difficile toxin A and B

Frequency of stool samples positive for C. difficile toxin A and B at baseline, when presenting with diarrhoea during the study period, and at the follow-up 21 days post-antibiotic treatment is done to detect possible clearance of C. difficile, in patients ingesting L. reuteri versus placebo.

Time frame: 2 years

Frequencies of other gastrointestinal symptoms

Frequencies of other gastrointestinal symptoms during antibiotic use and 7 and 21 days after cessation of antibiotic use, in the L. reuteri group versus placebo is to be assessed by the validated GSRS score (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Score, Svedlund et al., 1988).

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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