How do probiotics and vitamins function against C. difficile-induced antibiotic associated diarrhea ?

Abstract

The majority of all cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (ADD) is caused by disturbance of the microflora. Pathogens such as Clostridium difficile then get the chance to adhere, colonize and produce toxines, causing the symptoms. Several probiotics have shown the ability to prevent or shorten the duration of the symptoms of AAD. These results were mainly obtained by means of clinical trials. Studied probiotics include the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii and a number of lactic acid bacteria. Although their mechanisms of action are not fully understood, they function in several possible ways: they may modify the environment, compete with C. difficile for nutrients and adhesion sites, produce antimicrobial metabolites and/or modify the host immune response. Also vitamins are thought to exert positive effects. In this study a set of five potential effective probiotics have been examined for their ability to function as additional treatment for a C. difficile infection. The antibiotic susceptibility and capacity of the probiotics to inhibit C. difficile growth has been tested. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG showed the highest potential to function as an efficient probiotic against C. difficile.