Clostridioides difficile, also known more commonly asC. diff, accounts for 10 to 20% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea cases, because the antibiotics administered for the treatment of certain disease processes such asinflammatory colitis also inadvertently kill a large portion of thegut flora, thenormal flora that is usually present within thebowel. With this lower level of "healthy" bacteria present, the overgrowth ofC. diff is then responsible "for elaborating theenterotoxin".[1]
Meta-analyses have concluded thatprobiotics may protect against antibiotic-associated diarrhea in both children and adults.[2][3] Evidence is insufficient, however, regarding an effect on rates ofC. difficile colitis.[4]
The efficacy of probiotic AAD prevention is dependent on the probiotic strain(s) used and on the dosage.[5][6] Up to a 50% reduction of AAD occurrences has been found.[7]
^abAllan B. Wolfson, ed. (2005).Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine (4th ed.). p. 400.ISBN0-7817-5125-X.
^Hempel, S; Newberry, SJ; Maher, AR; Wang, Z; Miles, JN; Shanman, R; Johnsen, B; Shekelle, PG (May 9, 2012). "Probiotics for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis".JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.307 (18):1959–69.doi:10.1001/jama.2012.3507.PMID22570464.
^Surawicz, C. M. (2008). "Role of Probiotics in Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea,Clostridium difficile-associated Diarrhea, and RecurrentClostridium difficile-associated Diarrhea".Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.42:S64 –S70.doi:10.1097/MCG.0b013e3181646d09.PMID18545161.S2CID37993276.
^Sazawal, S; Hiremath, G; Dhingra, U; Malik, P; Deb, S; Black, RE (June 2006). "Efficacy of probiotics in prevention of acute diarrhoea: a meta-analysis of masked, randomised, placebo-controlled trials".The Lancet Infectious Diseases.6 (6):374–82.doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(06)70495-9.PMID16728323.
