Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotics associated diarrhea: a systematic review
Scheike I, Connock M, Taylor R, Fry-Smith A, Ward D
Record ID 32006000676
English
Authors' objectives:
The aim of this report is to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea (AAD).
Authors' results and conclusions:
The results of this review suggest that probiotics can significantly decrease the incidence and duration of AAD by 52% (95% CI: 37% to 63%) and by 0.6 days (95% CI: 0.04 to 1.11) respectively. The benefit of probiotics is found in the comparison with placebo or no treatment (RR=0.48, 95% CI 0.37 ; 0.63, NNT=8) However, the incidence of AAD did not differ between probiotic and active comparator groups (RR: 1.45, 95% CI: 0.91 to 2.30). Furthermore, the incidence of C. difficile associated diarrhoea was reduced by 46% (95% CI: 14%-76%, NNT= 36). However, colonisation by C. difficile did not differ between the probiotic and placebo groups (RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.66-1.36). Probiotics have no effect on the severity and time to developing symptoms of diarrhoea. There were no reports with adverse events with probiotics.
Authors' recommendations:
Probiotics appear to be effective in the prevention of AAD including C. difficile and have little or no harmful effects. Given the low cost of a course of treatment and their potential to reduce downstream healthcare resource utilisation, probiotics may well be cost saving.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-mds/haps/projects/WMHTAC/REPreports/2005/probiotics2007.pdf
Year Published:
2005
URL for published report:
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/mds/projects/HaPS/PHEB/WMHTAC/REP/reports-list.aspx
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
England
MeSH Terms
- Costs and Cost Analysis
- Probiotics
- Diarrhea
Contact
Organisation Name:
West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration
Contact Address:
Elaena Donald-Lopez, West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT Tel: +44 121 414 7450; Fax: +44 121 414 7878
Contact Name:
louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Contact Email:
louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Copyright:
University of Birmingham
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.