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Probiotics

Probiotics

Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...

Development of Human Microbiota

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes work-related infections among healthcare staff.
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Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

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The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay

Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay

Published on: April 28, 2014

Probiotics in the intensive care unit.

¹Creighton University Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. lmorrow@creighton.edu

Current Opinion in Critical Care

|March 21, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Probiotic use in intensive care units (ICUs) shows mixed results for conditions like diarrhea and pneumonia. More large, high-quality trials are needed to confirm benefits and safety in critically ill patients.

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Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay

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Published on: January 27, 2019

Area of Science:

Critical Care Medicine
Microbiology
Gastroenterology

Background:

Probiotics are live microorganisms intended to confer a health benefit.
Their role in managing various conditions in critically ill patients remains under investigation.
Intensive care unit (ICU) patients represent a vulnerable population with unique physiological challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current scientific knowledge on the efficacy of probiotics in treating diverse medical conditions in ICU patients.
To synthesize findings from recent experimental and clinical studies.

Main Methods:

Literature review of experimental and clinical studies.
Analysis of data concerning probiotic therapy in conditions such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, acute pancreatitis, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and sepsis.
Evaluation of study quality and research design.

Main Results:

Existing data primarily stem from small, single-center trials with variable quality.
Some studies suggest favorable outcomes, but one trial in severe pancreatitis indicated increased mortality with probiotic use.
Few studies have specifically focused on the critically ill ICU population.

Conclusions:

The evidence supporting probiotic use in various clinical conditions is inconsistent in scope and quality.
Larger, well-designed, randomized, multicenter trials are essential.
Further research is needed to clarify the role and ensure the safety of probiotics in critically ill patients.