The probiotic effect of Saccharomyces boulardii in a pediatric age group
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PEDIATRICS, vol.50, no.4, pp.234-236, 2004 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 50 Issue: 4
- Publication Date: 2004
- Doi Number: 10.1093/tropej/50.4.234
- Journal Name: JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PEDIATRICS
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Page Numbers: pp.234-236
- Ankara University Affiliated: No
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of S. boulardii in diarrhea associated with commonly used antibiotics such as sulbactam-ampicillin (SAM) and azithromycin (AZT). Four hundred and sixtysix patients were assigned to four different groups as follows: group 1:117 patients receiving SAM alone; group 2:117 patients receiving SAM and S. boulardii; group 3: 105 patients receiving AZT alone; group 4: 127 patients receiving AZT and S. boulardii. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea was seen in 42 of the 222 patients (18.9 per cent) receiving an antibiotic without the probiotic, and in 14 of the 244 patients (5.7 per cent) who received both the probiotic and the antibiotic (p < 0.05). In the group receiving SAM where S. boulardii use was found to be significant, the use of S. boulardii decreased the diarrhea rate from 32.3 to 11.4 per cent in the 1-5 years age group (p < 0.05). This is a pioneering study investigating combined antibiotic and probiotic use in pediatric diarrhea patients.