Probiotic use to prevent the colonization of the lower intestine by harmful pathogens may be ineffective, according to a study from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
Over a 21-month period, 70 ICU patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis were followed to determine if a commonly administered probiotic could prevent gastrointestinal colonization of multi-drug resistant, infection-causing bacteria such as Clostridium difficile or Enterococcus.
The researchers found no significant difference in overall acquisition of any potentially harmful organisms between a group given probiotics and a control group. However, the study was confined to lower intestinal bacteria and did not assess any impact there may have been on bacteria in the stomach or upper airways.