[Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with Lactobacillus sporogens and fructo-oligosaccharides in children. A multicentric double-blind vs placebo study].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to determine the efficacy of a fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)-Lactobacillus sporogenes preparation in the prevention of diarrhea due to antibiotics in childhood.

METHODS

A multicentre, randomised, double-blind versus placebo study was carried out. A total of 120 children, with active infections requiring antibiotics, were enrolled in the study and treated for 10 days either in the experimental group (F) or in the placebo one (P). The results of the study were recorded from the patients' diary and from follow-up clinical examinations.

RESULTS

Out of 98 evaluable patients, 71% in group F had no diarrhea versus 38% in group P. The duration of diarrhea in F and P groups was 0.7 vs 1.6 days (p=0.002), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylaxis with Lactobacillus sporogens, associated to FOS, significantly reduced the number of days and duration of events in children with antibiotic-induced diarrhea.