Cochrane backs probiotics for kids on antibiotics

Cochrane backs probiotics for kids on antibiotics

Young children prescribed antibiotics should be given probiotics as a matter of course, research suggests.

According to the latest evidence, probiotics lessen the odds of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children, and come with few if any side effects.

A Cochrane review of 23 randomised trials with almost 4000 paediatric patients found those given probiotics had a less than 10% risk of antibiotic-associated  diarrhoea, compared with the controls who had a 20% risk.

Children were randomised to single- or multi-strain probiotics typically for five to 12 days and compared with controls who were given a placebo or no treatment. Probiotics administered included Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, Lactobacilli, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Saccharomycesand Streptococcus.

The largest of the studies analysed found that toddlers and those exposed to amoxicillin/clavulanate are at the highest risk for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

No trials reported serious adverse events attributable to probiotics.

The Canadian researchers note that most of the studies assessed Lactobacillus rhamnosus andSaccharomyces boulardii but they say it’s not clear whether the results from these probiotic species are generalisable to other probiotics.

But they say their findings are consistent with recommendations from the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition recommendations, which has published the only guideline based on systematic reviews addressing antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

“[This] suggests that L rhamnosus or S boulardii at 5 to 40 billion colony-forming units/d may be reasonable to consider among otherwise healthy children receiving antibiotics,” write the authors in JAMA.

Source: pharmacynews.com.au, Friday, 14 October 2016