Treatment of acute otitis media with probiotics in otitis-prone children -: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised study

Background Et aims: To examine whether probiotics would reduce the occurrence or duration of acute otitis media (AOM), or the nasopharyngeal carriage of otitis pathogens in otitis-prone children. Methods: During this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, 24-week intervention, 309 otitis-prone children (10 months-6 years) consumed either one probiotic capsule (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and LC705, Bifidobacterium breve 99 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii JS) (n = 155) or placebo (n = 154) daily. Clinical examinations were carried out and nasopharyngeal. samples taken three times. Parents recorded the symptoms of upper respiratory infection (URI) in a diary. Results: Probiotic treatment did not reduce the occurrence (probiotic vs. ptacebo: 72% vs. 65%, OR = 1.48, 95% CI 0.87-2.52, p = n.s.) or the recurrence (>= three) of AOM episodes (18% vs. 17%, OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.55-1.96, p = n.s.). The median duration of AOM episodes was 5.6 (IQR 3.5-9.4) vs. 6.0 (IQR 4.0-10.5) days, respectively (p = n.s.). There was a tendency showing a reduction in the occurrence of recurrent (> 4 to >= 6) respiratory infections in the probiotic group (OR for >= 4 URIs: 0.56, 95%CI 0.31-0.99, p = 0.046; OR for >= 6 URIs: 0.59, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.03, p = n.s.). Probiotics did not affect the carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae, but increased the prevalence of Moraxella catarrhalis (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.06-3.00, p = 0.028). Conclusions: Probiotics did not prevent the occurrence of AOM or the nasopharyngeal carriage of otitis pathogens in otitis-prone children. A tendency showing a reduction in recurrent respiratory infections must be confirmed in further studies. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.