Research
Helpful Bacteria
Part 2

A randomized formula controlled trial of Bifidobacterium lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in infants

Abstract

Correa NB, Peret Filho LA, Penna FJ, Lima FM, Nicoli JR.

Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

GOALS: This clinical trial was carried out to determine whether oral treatment with a commercial probiotic formula containing Bifidobacterium lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus would reduce the frequency of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in infants. STUDY: In this double-bind formula controlled study, 80 infants, 6 to 36 months of age, were randomly assigned to receive a commercial formula containing 10 viable cells of B. lactis and 10 viable cells of S. thermophilus at the initiation of antibiotics for a duration of 15 days. The infants were assessed daily for formula intake, stool frequency, and stool consistency for a total duration of 30 days. Seventy-seven infants received nonsupplemented formula for the entire duration. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the incidence of AAD in the children receiving probiotic-supplemented formula (16%) than nonsupplemented formula (31%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that prevention against AAD in infants was obtained by oral treatment with daily dose of B. lactis and S. thermophilus.