The Singapore Family Physician

Back to issue Vol 36 No. 4 - Primary Care Mental Health

Lacteol Fort Treatment Reduces Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea

Yap Soo Kor Jason
Gwee Kok Ann, Chen Zhaojin
Tai Bee Choo
Wong Mee Lian
The Singapore Family Physician Vol 36 No 4 - Primary Care Mental Health
46 - 49
1 October 2010
0377-5305
Background: Antibiotic treatment is commonly associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, in particular diarrhea. The use of lactobacillus preparation has been proposed as a preventive measure. Objectives:We conducted an exploratory study on the effect of Lacteol fort (LF), a heat inactivated lactobacillus preparation, on antibioticassociated bowel disturbances in a primary care population. methods: Consecutive patients attending a primary care clinic because of infection and who were prescribed antibiotics were recruited prospectively. All patients seen by one attending physician were prescribed antibiotics without LF (antibiotic only) (n=96, 29% male, mean age 38 years), while all patients seen by another attending physician were prescribed 2 LF capsules bd for one week during the antibiotic treatment course (antibiotic+LF) (n=88, 43% male, mean age 36.4 years). From the same centre, healthy patients attending the annual health screening (healthy controls) (n=141, 23% male, mean age 39.7 years) were also enrolled in the study. All subjects completed a structured questionnaire at entry, and kept a bowel diary for two weeks from the start of treatment. Results: more patients who received antibiotic treatment reported loose stools ≥ 1 day than healthy subjects who had not received antibiotics, but diarrhea was less in the Lacteol fort treated group (antibiotic only: RR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.07 – 1.72; antibiotic+LF: RR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.89 – 1.51, p=0.046). LF did not reduce the risk of developing bloating, flatus and abdominal pain among patients given antibiotics.Conclusion: Our results suggest that Lacteol fort treatment may reduce the risks of diarrhea associated with antibiotic treatment.