Table 3 Summary of gastrointestinal decolonization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci by probiotic therapy
Ref | Country/year of publication/study setting | Decolonization regimens/study end point(if mentioned) | Results at study end point | Microbiology culture methods/presence of broth enrichment or not |
|---|---|---|---|---|
[20] | Australia/2007/double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in nephrology patients | Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in the form of commercially available yoghurt: 100 g daily of yoghurt containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for 4 weeks/follow up for 4 weeks post treatment | VRE negative in all 11 patients in treatment group at the end of therapy; 8 (73%) remained VRE negative 4 weeks post treatment; VRE negative in 1 (8%) of 12 control patient at the end of treatment | Enterococcosel agar (BD, Sparks, Md, USA) containing 6 μg vancomycin/no broth enrichment |
[21] | France/2010/double-blind randomized pilot study in adult | Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35: 5-week course of Lcr35 (109 active cells daily) or a placebo/follow up till the end of therapy | VRE negative in 3 (50%) of 6 patients in treatment group vs 2 (100%) of 2 patients in control group at the end of therapy | Not mentioned |
[18] | Poland/2011/randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study in children | Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG 3 billion colony forming unit per day vs placebo for 21 days/follow up till the end of therapy | VRE negative in 20 (63%) of 32 patients in treatment group vs 7 (24%) of 29 in control group (p = 0.002) | Selective medium (D-Coccosel agar, BioMe’rieux) and a chromogenic medium (ChromID, BioMe’rieux)/no broth enrichment |