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Treatment
Review: probiotics are effective in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhoea

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebn.6.1.16

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    D’Souza AL, Rajkumar C, Cooke J, et al.Probiotics in prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea: meta-analysis.BMJ2002 ;324:1361–4OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text

    QUESTION: In patients being treated with antibiotics, does co-administration with probiotics reduce the incidence of diarrhoea?

    Data sources

    Studies in any language (with English abstracts) were identified by searching Medline (1966–2000) with the terms probiotics, biotherapeutic agents, lactobacilli, antibiotic associated diarrhoea, and Clostridium difficile; the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register; and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

    Study selection

    Studies were selected if they were randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials of probiotic treatment given in combination with antibiotics and if diarrhoea prevention was reported. Studies of travellers’ diarrhoea and infectious diarrhoea were excluded.

    Data extraction

    Data were extracted on sample size; type, dose, and duration of probiotic treatment; and antibiotic …

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    Footnotes

    • For correspondence: Dr A L D’Souza, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. aloysius.dsouza{at}ic.ac.uk

    • Source of funding: no external funding. A modified version of this abstract appears in ACP Journal Club and Evidence-Based Medicine.