Probiotics in antibiotic treatment - an overview of effectiveness, risks, and recommended practices

The administration of antibiotics is associated with the risk of diarrhea due to disruption of the natural gut microbiome, a condition that may persist for several months after the completion of treatment. Probiotics are often used to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea; however, their effectiveness in this indication remains a subject of discussion. Meta-analyses confirming the benefits of probiotics are critically assessed by the professional community, and for a long time, their administration was not included in the recommended practices of professional societies. The situation changed in 2023 when probiotics were included in the recommended practices of the World Gastroenterology Organization. This article focuses on the possibilities of administering probiotics in the Czech context, emphasizing currently available medicinal products, their composition, benefits, and potential risks.