Probiotics may lower infections in hospitalized children

Probiotics may lower the risk for infections in hospitalized children, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial reported in the May issue of Pediatrics. "The incidence of nosocomial infections, predominantly gastrointestinal and respiratory, in children in developed countries is high, ranging from 5% to 44%," write the researchers. "There is no effective strategy for preventing these infections. The objective of our study was to investigate the role of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) in preventing nosocomial gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections at a pediatric hospital." In this study, 742 children aged 1 to 18 years were randomly assigned to receive LGG (n = 376) or placebo (n = 366) during their hospitalization. Compared with the placebo group, the LGG group had a significantly lower risk for nosocomial infections including gastrointestinal, respiratory, vomiting, and diarrheal episodes.