Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum stored at ambient temperature are effective in the treatment of acute diarrhoea

INTRODUCTION Probiotics have demonstrated potential to reduce duration of diarrhoea and frequency of watery stools. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum (Infloran(®)) are usually maintained at a storage temperature of 4°C which is generally not feasible in tropical or sub-tropical countries. AIM The efficacy of Infloran(®) for treatment of acute diarrhoea when stored at 28-32°C (room temperature) was evaluated. METHODS This was a double-blind, randomised study of infants and children aged 2 months to 7 years with acute diarrhoea. Patients were randomly assigned to receive Infloran(®) stored at 4°C, at room temperature, or to a placebo group. Duration of diarrhoea was a primary outcome, while the number of stools, hospital stay and requirement for rehydration fluid were secondary outcomes. RESULTS Probiotics shortened duration of diarrhoea (34.1 and 34.8 hrs when stored either at 4°C or at room temperature, respectively, and 58 hrs with placebo, p<0.01) and reduced the number of stools (7.3 and 8 vs 15.9 with placebo, p<0.01). CONCLUSION Administration of probiotics is beneficial as additional treatment of acute diarrhoea and efficacy is not affected by storage temperature.