Biotherapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diarrhea

Citation
Gw. Elmer et Lv. Mcfarland, Biotherapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diarrhea, GASTRO CLIN, 30(3), 2001, pp. 837
Citations number
122
Categorie Soggetti
Gastroenerology and Hepatology
Journal title
GASTROENTEROLOGY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA
ISSN journal
08898553 → ACNP
Volume
30
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Database
ISI
SICI code
0889-8553(200109)30:3<837:BAITTO>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
The treatment of infectious diarrhea poses multiple challenges. The causes of infectious diarrhea are diverse, ranging from bacterial to viral to fung al, and the types of available treatments are equally diverse. Traditional therapeutic approaches with antibiotics, changes in diet, and oral rehydrat ion therapy have been useful, but the need for alternative treatments exist s. The use of beneficial living organisms or biotherapeutic agents has been investigated and found safe and effective for various types of infectious diarrhea and the treatment of Clostridium difficile disease. Although there are numerous types of microbial preparations available, only a few are bac ked by large, placebo-controlled clinical trials. The microbial agents with adequate scientific evidence include Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillu s rhamnosus GG, and several species of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The scientific evidence for these agents is reviewed and analyzed in this arti cle.