Antibiotic associated diarrhoea: a controlled study comparing plain antibiotic with those containing protected lactobacilli.

Antibiotic associated diarrhoea is known to occur with broad spectrum antibiotics. Lactobacillus has been used for prophylaxis and therapy of this condition. In a double blind controlled study, the antibiotic containing ampicillin (250 mg) and cloxacillin (250 mg) with or without protected lactobacilli was evaluated in 740 patients undergoing cataract surgery. The incidence of diarrhoea in patients receiving plain antibiotic was 13.3% compared to 0.0% in patients receiving antibiotic with protected lactobacilli (p<0.001). The study demonstrates that antibiotic formulations containing protected lactobacilli maintain prophylactic effect of lactobacilli.