Do probiotics have a role in the treatment and prevention of nosocomial infections?

Probiotics, or living microbes used as therapeutic agents, have been used for the treatment and prevention of diverse types of diseases. However, the focus of the application of these probiotics has been mainly on individuals and not on widespread outbreak prevention. As continued efforts in infection control and antibiotic treatments fail to stem the increasing rates of nosocomial outbreaks, probiotics may offer an alternative strategy for controlling these infections. The advantages of probiotics are that they are natural, have a long history of use, are well-studied, have a low risk of antibiotic-resistance and have an excellent safety profile. A review of the literature for randomised controlled trials using probiotics found 22 studies that were applicable to this aim. The most promising targets for probiotics are Clostridium difficile outbreaks, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) and rotaviral outbreaks in paediatric patients.