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Probiotics in relapsing and chronic diarrhea
Eric I Benchimol1, David R Mack
1Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
|July 31, 2004
Summary
Chronic diarrhea in cancer patients can be debilitating. Probiotics may help resolve antibiotic-associated diarrhea, offering a potential treatment for oncology patients experiencing persistent gastrointestinal issues.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Diarrhea is a frequent and potentially debilitating side effect in oncology patients.
- Chronic and relapsing diarrhea can disrupt cancer treatment plans and prove challenging to manage.
- Antibiotic use is a common trigger for gastrointestinal disturbances in this patient population.
Observation:
- Two cases are presented: a leukemia patient with recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis and a patient experiencing chronic diarrhea post-bone marrow transplantation.
- Antibiotic administration was identified as the suspected cause in both instances.
- One patient received probiotics with a short course of metronidazole, while the other received probiotics alone.
Findings:
- The patient with recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis experienced resolution of diarrhea with probiotics and metronidazole.
- The patient with post-transplant chronic diarrhea showed resolution after probiotic administration, which was sustained even after stopping probiotics.
- These cases suggest a potential therapeutic role for probiotics in managing antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Implications:
- Probiotics may represent a viable strategy for treating chronic diarrhea linked to antibiotic use in cancer patients.
- Further research into probiotic efficacy could lead to improved supportive care for oncology patients.
- Understanding and mitigating antibiotic-induced diarrhea is crucial for maintaining treatment continuity and patient well-being.