Probiotics to Prevent Severe Pneumonia

Probiotics are commercially available live bacteria thought to have health benefits when ingested. A literature review of probiotic studies in the intensive care unit (ICU) found that in patients who receive probiotics, there is a 25% reduction in lung infection, known as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). There is also an 18% reduction in the chance of developing any infection in the ICU. However, the studies reviewed were small and not well done. Therefore, whether probiotics are really helpful or not is unclear. Before a large carefully performed study is done to evaluate the effects of probiotics in critically ill patients, a pilot trial was needed. The Investigators completed a multicenter pilot RCT for which the primary outcomes relate to feasibility. Feasibility goals were met. 1) Recruitment for the Pilot was achieved in 1 year; 2) Adherence to the protocol was 96%; 3) There were no cases of contamination; 4) The VAP rate was 15%. This study is very important in the ongoing search for more effective strategies to prevent serious infection during critical illness. Probiotics may be an easy-to-use, readily available, inexpensive approach to help future critically ill patients around the world.