To the Editor: We read Pham and colleagues’ recent article1 with interest, as evidence mounts against the use of probiotics in critically ill patients. Although a plausible and attractive theory, probiotics in the patient with acute illness now appear ineffective, if not positively harmful.
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- Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, QLD.
Correspondence: Shimonti_Chatterjee@health.qld.gov.au
- 1. Pham M, Lemberg DA, Day AS. Probiotics: sorting the evidence from the myths. Med J Aust 2008; 188: 304-308. <MJA full text>
- 2. Besselink MGH, van Santvoort HC, Buskens E, et al. Probiotic prophylaxis in predicted severe acute pancreatitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2008; 371: 651-659.
- 3. Jain PK, McNaught CE, Anderson AD, et al. Influence of synbiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb 12, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and oligofructose on gut barrier function and sepsis in critically ill patients: a randomised controlled trial. Clin Nutr 2004; 23: 467-475.
- 4. Honeycutt TC, El Khashab M, Wardrop RM III, et al. Probiotic administration and the incidence of nosocomial infection in pediatric intensive care: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2007; 8: 452-458.
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