Unlocking the Power of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review on Safeguarding Hospitalised Patients from Clostridium Difficle Infection

Abstract

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common
complication of antibiotic therapy, with Clostridium
difficile infection (CDI) being a major cause of severe
AAD. CDI is associated with high morbidity, mortality,
and healthcare costs. The administration of probiotics is
a promising strategy for the prevention of AAD and CDI,
as they can create a favorable gut environment and
alter the composition of the intestinal flora. This
systematic review evaluated the use of probiotics in
preventing CDI in hospitalized adult patients. The
review of 12 randomized controlled trials involving
3,586 patients found that probiotics reduced the
incidence of CDI in hospitalized adult patients by up to
70%. Specifically, the probiotic strains Lactobacillus
rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii were
found to be effective in preventing CDI. However,
further research is needed to establish optimal dosing
regimens and to identify the most effective probiotic
strains for CDI prevention. Nonetheless, the use of
probiotics appears to be a promising strategy for
reducing the incidence of CDI in hospitalized adult
patients receiving antibiotics.