Lactobacillus GG in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of Lac tobacillus casei sps. rhamnosus (Lactobacillus GG) (LGG) in reducing the in cidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea when coadministered with an oral antibiotic in children with acute infectious disorders. Study design: Two hundred two children between 6 months and 10 years of age were enrolled; 188 completed all phases of the protocol. LGG, 1 x 10(10) - 2 x 10(10) colony forming units per day, or comparable placebo was adminis tered in a double-blind randomized trial to children receiving oral antibio tic therapy in an outpatient setting. The primary caregiver was questioned every 3 days regarding the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, predomin antly stool frequency and consistency, through telephone contact by blinded investigators. Results: Twenty-five placebo-treated but only 7 LGG-treated patients had di arrhea as defined by liquid stools numbering 2 or greater per day. Lactobac illus GG overall significantly reduced stool frequency and increased stool consistency during antibiotic therapy by the tenth day compared with the pl acebo group. Conclusion: Lactobacillus GG reduces the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children treated with oral antibiotics for common childhood in fections.