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Probiotics for Modification of the Incidence or Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections

Joan L Robinson1

  • 1From the University of Alberta and Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|August 3, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Probiotics show potential for preventing infectious diseases, but evidence for treating respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is currently lacking. More research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in managing RTIs and related conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Growing interest in probiotics for infectious disease management.
  • Limited research exists on probiotics for respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the current evidence for probiotics in the therapy and prevention of RTIs.
  • To assess the efficacy of probiotics in managing pediatric and adult respiratory infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of published clinical trials on probiotic use for RTIs.
  • Analysis of evidence quality regarding prevention and treatment of respiratory infections.

Main Results:

  • No published trials investigate probiotics as therapy for RTIs in children or adults.
  • Low-quality, inconsistent evidence supports probiotic use for preventing RTIs or ventilator-associated pneumonia.
  • Evidence for modifying RTI severity with probiotics is also inconsistent.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence does not support the use of probiotics for the therapy of RTIs.
  • Further high-quality research is necessary to determine the role of probiotics in preventing and managing respiratory infections.

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