Impact of Probiotics for Reducing Infections in Veterans (IMPROVE): Study protocol for a double-blind, randomized controlled trial to reduce carriage of Staphylococcus aureus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an organism of great public health importance, causing 20,000 deaths annually. Decolonization of patients with S. aureus may prevent infections, yet current options are limited to antimicrobials that promote antibiotic resistance and can cause adverse side effects. Probiotics have potential to reduce colonization of pathogenic bacteria, representing a promising alternative for S. aureus decolonization, but thus far lack rigorous evaluation.

Methods

Potential subjects were recruited from inpatient and outpatient settings within a VA medical center and screened for S. aureus gastrointestinal (GI) or extra-GI colonization using swabs at multiple body sites. Positive, eligible, consenting participants were stratified by colonizatio

SUBMITTER: Eggers S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5670736 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature