Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 effectively reduces the duration of acute diarrhoea in hospitalised children. (24th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dinleyici, Ener Cagri; PROBAGE Study Group; Vandenplas, Yvan; Dalgic, Nazan; Guven, Sirin; Metin, Özge; Eren, Makbule; Ozen, Metehan; Kara, Ates; Tanir, Gonul; Arica, Vefik; Sancar, Mesut; Turel, Ozden; Kurugol, Zafer; Yasa, Olcay
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 103:Number 7(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: e300
• Page End: e305
• Publication Date: 2014-03-24
• Subjects: Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.12617
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="apa12617-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="apa12617-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>Guidelines consider certain probiotics useful in the management of acute gastroenteritis. This study evaluated the use of <italic>Lactobacillus (L) reuteri</italic> DSM 17938.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12617-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A multicentre, randomised, single‐blind clinical trial was performed in hospitalised children with acute gastroenteritis lasting 12–72 h. Children received conventional therapy with, or without, 1 × 10<sup>8</sup> CFU of <italic>L. reuteri</italic> DSM 17938 for 5 days. The primary endpoint was the duration of diarrhoea and secondary outcomes were days of hospitalisation and the percentage of children with diarrhoea after each day of treatment.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12617-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We compared 64 children receiving <italic>L. reuteri</italic> with 63 controls. <italic>Lactobacillus reuteri</italic> reduced the duration of diarrhoea after 24 h (p < 0.001) and more diarrhoea‐free children were seen in the <italic>L. reuteri</italic> than control group after 24 and 48 h (50% versus 5%, p < 0.001) and 72 h (69% versus 11%, p < 0.001). <italic>Lactobacillus reuteri</italic> reduced mean hospital stays (4.31 ± 1.3 days versus 5.46 ± 1.77 days, p < 0.001). Prolonged diarrhoea occurred in 17% of the controls, but none of the <italic>L. reuteri</italic> group. No adverse effects were reported.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12617-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p> <italic>Lactobacillus reuteri</italic> effectively reduced the duration of acute diarrhoea and hospital stays in children hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis. Outpatient data are now required.</p> </sec> </abstract>