| Disease |
Probiotic Strain |
Comments |
| Prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) |
S. boulardi [37,38] |
Number needed to treat (NNT) is 10.2 to prevent one case of AAD. |
| Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) [39-41] |
Effective on adults and children in RCT’s. |
| Prevention of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) |
S. boulardii, LGG, or both [52] |
Study results are not statistically significant. |
| Prevention of recurrence after first CDI |
S. boulardii [53] |
Reduction of recurrence of CDI by half. |
| Helicobacter pylori eradication |
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), S. boulardii, L acidophilus [55] |
Moderate evidence for improving eradication but good evidence of reduction in side effects leading to improved compliance. |
| Ulcerative Colitis |
E coli Nissle 1917 [68] |
Promising role in maintenance of remission. |
| |
VSL#3 [70] |
Role in induction and maintenance of remission of UC. |
| Crohn’s Disease |
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) [71,72], Lactobacillus johnsonii LA1[73] |
No role in induction or prolonging of remission of CD. |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome |
Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 [80], VSL#3 [81] |
Significant improvements in IBS symptoms. |
| Acute Pancreatitis |
Lactobacillus plantarum 299 [88] |
But PROPATRIA trial showed an increased incidence of infection, MODS and bowel ischemia. |
| Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) |
Bifidusbacterium spp and
Lactobacillus acidophilus [148] |
Prophylactic probiotics reduced NEC and mortality. Increased infection is noted among VLBW (<750 g). |
| Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS) |
VSL#3 [118] |
Increased systemic IgA and IgG concentrations are noted but MODS scores were not significantly affected by probiotic treatment. |
| Allergy and Immune Response |
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) [125-127] |
Alone when given to mothers during pregnancy did decrease the risk of atopic dermatitis but similar results were not seen when given with other probiotic strains. |
| Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) |
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) [142] |
Number needed to treat (NNT) is 5 to prevent one case of VAP. |
