Bovine colostrum ameliorates diarrhea in infection with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Shiga toxin-producing E-coli, and E-coli expressing intimin and hemolysin

Background: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli may cause serious extraintestina l complications, but there is no specific treatment. Methods: Patients with diarrhea caused by diarrheagenic E. coli, specifical ly Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and E. coli-expressing intimin and enteroh emorrhagic E. coli-hemolysin were treated by administration of pooled bovin e colostrum? rich in antibodies to Shiga toxin and enterohemorrhagic E. col i-hemolysin, in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Symptom resolutio n and fecal excretion of infecting strains were assessed. Results: No side effects were attributable to colostrum. Stool frequencies in the group treated with bovine colostrum were significantly reduced compa red with those in the placebo group. No effect of therapy on the carriage o f the pathogens or on complications of the infection could be demonstrated. Conclusions: Bovine colostrum is well tolerated and diminishes frequency of loose stools in children with E. coli-associated diarrhea. A prospective s tudy should be conducted among a larger number of children with Shiga toxin -producing E. coil identified early in illness, to determine the effectiven ess of colostrum therapy.