Potion or Poison? Probiotics

Abstract

SUMMARY MESSAGE: Two types of probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii) at high doses may prevent the onset of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children. Probiotics are generally well tolerated. Clinical benefit needs to be confirmed in larger studies across a greater range of probiotics. There is insufficient evidence to recommend probiotic therapy in adults as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy, specifically for Clostridium difficile-induced colitis.