Probiotics could be used to protect critically ill patients..pneumonia

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Probiotics could be used to protect critically ill patients from

developing pneumonia, according to scientists.

The friendly bacteria can block the colonisation by dangerous bugs of

the airways of ventilated patients, the Swedish study concluded.

The probiotic solution performed just as well as normal antiseptics

used to keep pneumonia-causing bacteria at bay, the journal Critical

Care reported.

Being more natural it could pose fewer side effects, the authors said.

Friendly bugs

The probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum 299 is normally present

in saliva and is also commonly found in fermented products like pickles

and sauerkraut.

Although rare, some patients are allergic to the antiseptics normally

used to prevent ventilator-associatused to prevent ventilator-associat<W

There is also a very small risk of the pneumonia-causing bacteria

developing chlorhexidine resistance.

Pneumonia is a common complication in patients on breathing machines

and occurs when harmful bacteria from the mouth, throat or breathing

tube are inhaled into the lungs.

Swabbing the mouth with chlorhexidine is widely recommended to reduce

the risk ventilator-associatthe risk ventilator-associat<WBR>ed pneumo

requiring mechanical ventilation.

Bengt Klarin and colleagues at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden,

compared the probiotic treatment with chlorhexidine in 50 critically

ill patients.

Microbiological testing revealed both treatments appeared to be equally

effective at preventing potentially harmful bacteria from flourishing

in the mouth and throat.

In addition, a probiotic that adheres to mouth lining will be able to

work around the clock, unlike antiseptics which wear off after a few

hours, say the authors.

The scientists said bigger studies were now needed to investigate the

feasibility of using probiotics in this setting.

Bob Marsterton, chair of the British Society for Antimicrobial

Chemotherapy'Chemotherapy'<WBR>s working party on hospital acquired

" This is a plausible idea. But we need much larger trials that focus on

clinical outcomes to prove it is an effective and affordable

treatment. "

He said chlorhexidine highly effective, affordable and readily

available.

Sharon Noonan Kramer

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