The Cambridge Probiotic/Antibiotic Trial 1
Effect of probiotics on preventing disruption of the intestinal microflora following antibiotic therapy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study
SUMMARY
This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 22 patients with Helicobacter pylori aimed to study the effects of probiotic supplementation on the intestinal microbiota in response to antibiotic therapy.
The numbers of facultative anaerobes remained stable following antibiotic therapy in patients supplemented with Lab4 probiotics.
The overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria in the re-growth microbiota following antibiotic therapy was reduced with Lab4 probiotic supplementation.
Aim
This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of Lab4 probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota composition and prevention of pathogenic microorganisms overgrowth in response to antibiotic therapy.
Method
Results
1. Total numbers of facultative anaerobes:
– significantly increased in the patients on antibiotics and placebo at the end of the antibiotic treatment (*P<0.05) and remained increased post antibiotic therapy (*P<0.05) (Group 1).
– significantly increased in the patients on antibiotics and placebo at the end of the antibiotic treatment (*P<0.05), but the numbers decreased significantly after introducing Lab4 probiotic supplementation post antibiotic (*P<0.05, Group 2).
– remained stable in the patients on antibiotics and Lab4 probiotics throughout the study period (Group 3).
2. Lab4 probiotic supplementation reduced the overgrowth population of coliforms, enterococci and staphylococci in the re-growth microbiota following antibiotic therapy.
Conclusion
The Lab4 probiotic supplementation alongside antibiotic therapy has been shown to reduce the overgrowth of undesirable and potentially harmful bacteria both during and following antibiotic therapy.
