FEEDING OF BIFIDOBACTERIUM-BIFIDUM AND STREPTOCOCCUS-THERMOPHILUS TO INFANTS IN-HOSPITAL FOR PREVENTION OF DIARRHEA AND SHEDDING OF ROTAVIRUS

Acute diarrhoea is a serious cause of infant morbidity and mortality, and the development of preventive measures remains an important goal. Bifidobacteria (which constitute the predominant intestinal flora of b reastfed infants), as well as other lactic-acid-producing organisms su ch as Streptococcus thermophilus, are thought to have a protective eff ect against acute diarrhoeal disease. However, their efficacy has not been assessed in controlled trials. In a double-blind, placebo-control led trial, infants aged 5-24 months who were admitted to a chronic med ical care hospital were randomised to receive a standard infant formul a or the same formula supplemented with Bifidobacterium bifidum and S thermophilus. Patients were evaluated daily for occurrence of diarrhoe a, and faecal samples, obtained weekly, were analysed for rotavirus an tigen by enzyme immunoassay. Faecal samples were also obtained during an episode of diarrhoea for virological and bacteriological analyses. 55 subjects were evaluated for a total of 4447 patient-days during 17 months. 8 (31%) of the 26 patients who received the control formula an d 2 (7%) of 29 who received the supplemented formula developed diarrho ea during the course of the study (p=0.035, Fisher's exact test, two-t ailed). 10 (39%) of the subjects who received the control formula and 3 (10%) of those who received the supplemented formula shed rotavirus at some time during the study (p=0.025). The supplementation of infant formula with B bifidum and S thermophilus can reduce the incidence of acute diarrhoea and rotavirus shedding in infants admitted to hospita l.