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Published on: January 27, 2019
No evidence from a systematic review for the use of probiotics to prevent otitis media
Tzu Yu Chen1, Anneleen Hendrickx2, Duncan Scott Stevenson1,3
1Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Insights
This review found limited evidence on probiotics for preventing acute otitis media (AOM) in children. While nasal probiotics showed some promise, overall study quality was low, preventing definitive conclusions on AOM prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood infection.
- Probiotics are live microorganisms that may confer health benefits.
- The role of probiotics in preventing AOM requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the existing evidence on the efficacy of probiotics in preventing AOM in children.
- To assess the quality of studies evaluating probiotics for AOM prevention.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted in major databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane).
- Studies were screened for relevance to probiotics and AOM prevention in pediatric populations.
- Included studies were assessed for quality, ranging from poor to moderate.
Main Results:
- Thirteen studies were included, investigating oral and nasal probiotic formulations.
- Half of the studies using nasal probiotics indicated a significant reduction in AOM.
- A third of studies using oral probiotics suggested a benefit, with no significant adverse effects reported.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence for probiotics in preventing AOM is limited due to the low quality of studies.
- Definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of probiotics for AOM prevention cannot be drawn.
- Nasal probiotic administration shows some preliminary evidence of potential benefit without serious adverse events.
Aim:
This systematic review evaluates the current evidence for the use of probiotics in the prevention of acute otitis media (AOM) in children.
Methods:
This study is registered with PROSPERO prior to commencement. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane database were searched using relating keywords. All literature was screened to determine relatability to the topic. Review articles were also screened for additional literature.
Results:
Thirteen studies were found on probiotics and their role in preventing AOM in children. They ranged in quality from poor to moderate. Half (2/4) of the studies that used nasal probiotic formulations showed a significant difference in reducing otitis media, while only a third (3/9) of the studies using oral formulations suggest benefit in reducing AOM. None of the studies demonstrated significant adverse effects from probiotics.
Conclusion:
The evidence for any effect of probiotics on the prevention of AOM is limited, and the overall low quality of studies makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. No serious adverse events were noted, and there is some evidence to suggest possible benefit with nasal probiotic administration.
