Probiotics for Clostridium difficile infection in adults (PICO): Study protocol for a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clostridium difficile is a pathogen of rapidly increasing public health importance. An estimated quarter of a million Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) occur in the United States annually, at a resultant cost of 14,000 deaths and 1 billion dollars. Clostridium difficile related deaths have risen 400% over the last decade, and current standard antibiotic treatments are only 75 to 85% successful. Besides increasing the risk of antibiotic resistance and side effects, these treatments are very expensive. The most vulnerable population for Clostridium difficile is older adults, who make up approximately half of the cases, but account for 90% of the related deaths. Probiotics may have potential as adjunctive therapeutic agents for CDIs, however, current data is limited.

SUBMITTER: Barker A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4723294 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature