New cases of C. difficile-associated diarrhea among hospitalized patients taking antibiotics can be reduced by two-thirds with the use of probiotics, according to new research published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
“Because C. difficile forms spores, it is difficult to eradicate from the environment. Probiotics can be easily integrated into the diets of hospitalized patients,” says co-author Dr. Mark Loeb, professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, and division director of Infectious Diseases.
While treating and preventing infections, antibiotics can also destroy healthy bacteria in the colon. Probiotics help to reintroduce healthy bacteria.
“Because C. difficile forms spores, it is difficult to eradicate from the environment. Probiotics can be easily integrated into the diets of hospitalized patients,” says co-author Dr. Mark Loeb, professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, and division director of Infectious Diseases.
While treating and preventing infections, antibiotics can also destroy healthy bacteria in the colon. Probiotics help to reintroduce healthy bacteria.
