Effect of oral Bacillus coagulans administration on the density of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the stool of colonized mice

Aims: A mouse model of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) stool coloni zation was used to study the effect of Bacillus coagulans, a biotherapeutic agent, on the density of colonization. Methods and Results: VRE-colonized mice received orally administered B. coa gulans (10(7) cfu) or saline daily for four days. For one VRE strain, the d ensity of VRE at one and four days after treatment was 1.4 log(10)cfu g(-1) lower in experimental vs. control mice (P=0.03), and 35% of experimental v s. 0% of control mice had no detectable VRE four days after treatment (P=0. 03). For two additional strains, there was no statistically significant red uction of VRE density in the B. coagulans groups. Conclusions: B. coagulans therapy reduced the density of colonization for o ne of three VRE strains tested. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests a potential role for biotherapeutic agents as a means to reduce the density of VRE intestina l colonization.