Alvarez-Olmos M I, Oberhelman R A
Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Clin Infect Dis. 2001 Jun 1;32(11):1567-76. doi: 10.1086/320518. Epub 2001 May 4.
There is an increasing scientific and commercial interest in the use of beneficial microorganisms, or "probiotics," for the prevention and treatment of disease. The microorganisms most frequently used as probiotic agents are lactic-acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), which has been extensively studied in recent literature. Multiple mechanisms of action have been postulated, including lactose digestion, production of antimicrobial agents, competition for space or nutrients, and immunomodulation. We have reviewed recent studies of probiotics for the treatment and control of infectious diseases. Studies of pediatric diarrhea show substantial evidence of clinical benefits from probiotic therapy in patients with viral gastroenteritis, and data on LGG treatment for Clostridium difficile diarrhea appear promising. However, data to support use of probiotics for prevention of traveler's diarrhea are more limited. New research suggests potential applications in vaccine development and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Further studies are needed to take full advantage of this traditional medical approach and to apply it to the infectious diseases of the new millennium.
使用有益微生物或“益生菌”来预防和治疗疾病，在科学和商业领域正引发越来越多的关注。最常被用作益生菌剂的微生物是乳酸菌，如鼠李糖乳杆菌GG（LGG），近期文献对其进行了广泛研究。人们推测了多种作用机制，包括乳糖消化、抗菌剂的产生、空间或营养竞争以及免疫调节。我们回顾了近期关于益生菌治疗和控制传染病的研究。小儿腹泻的研究显示，有大量证据表明益生菌疗法对病毒性肠胃炎患者具有临床益处，而且关于LGG治疗艰难梭菌腹泻的数据看起来很有前景。然而，支持使用益生菌预防旅行者腹泻的数据更为有限。新的研究表明其在疫苗开发和预防性传播疾病方面有潜在应用。需要进一步开展研究，以充分利用这种传统医学方法，并将其应用于新千年的传染病防治。
