LACTOBACILLUS-REUTERI AS A THERAPEUTIC AGENT IN ACUTE DIARRHEA IN YOUNG-CHILDREN

Background: Certain strains of lactobacilli may promote recovery from acute diarrhea. Lactobacillus reuteri is of human origin and is a natu ral colonizer of gastrointestinal tract. In this trial, exogenously ad ministered L. reuteri was studied as a therapeutic agent in acute diar rhea. Methods: Forty patients between 6 and 36 months of age hospitali zed with acute diarrhea (75% rotavirus) were studied. After parental c onsent, the patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups to receive either 10(10) to 10(11) colony-forming units of L. reuteri or a matching placebo daily for the length of hospitalization or up to 5 days. The clinical outcome of diarrhea and colonization of L. reuteri were evaluated. Results: The mean (SD) duration of watery diarrhea af ter treatment was 1.7 (1.6) days in the L. reuteri group and 2.9 (2.3) days in the placebo group (p = 0.07). On the second day of treatment only 26% Of patients receiving L. reuteri had watery diarrhea, compare d with 81% of those receving placebo (p = 0.0005). Cultures of lactoba cilli from stool samples demonstrated that administration of L. reuter i resulted in colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. Lactobacillu s reuteri accounted for >75% of the total lactobacilli found in childr en fed with this product. Conclusions: Lactobacillus reuteri is effect ive as a therapeutic agent in acute rotavirus diarrhea in children. Fu rther studies are warranted to confirm the present finding and to expl ore the full therapeutic potential of L. reuteri in acute viral diarrh ea.