Probiotics and the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Infants and Children

Bradley C Johnston; Joshua Z Goldenberg; Patricia C Parkin

doi:10.1001/jama.2016.11838

Probiotics and the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Infants and Children

JAMA. 2016 Oct 11;316(14):1484-1485. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.11838.

Authors

Bradley C Johnston¹, Joshua Z Goldenberg², Patricia C Parkin³

Affiliations

¹ Systematic Overviews through advancing Research Technology, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada2Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada3Prevention Lab, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada4Bastyr University Research Institute, Kenmore, Washington.
³ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada5Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 27727371
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2016.11838

Abstract

Clinical question: In children prescribed an antibiotic, is the co-administration of a probiotic associated with lower rates of antibiotic-associated diarrhea without an increase in clinically important adverse events?

Bottom line: Moderate-quality evidence suggests that probiotics are associated with lower rates of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children (aged 1 month to 18 years) without an increase in adverse events.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Comment

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Child
Diarrhea / chemically induced*
Humans
Infant
Probiotics*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents