The effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus administration upon the survival of Salmonella in randomly selected human carriers.

The influence of Lactobacillus acidophilus in milk upon carrier time of Salmonella infected humans was compared to that in a similar population which received no acidophilus milk. The participants were 132 individuals between 3 and 73 years old of both sexes. Many were carriers of more than one infective agent. None were suffering from acute gastrointestinal symptoms nor receiving medication. The participants entered the study various times after diagnosis, and consumed acidophilus milk ad libitum continuously until 3 to 5 negative feces samples were obtained. The results were compared with a control population consisting of 160 individuals who consumed neither fermented milk products nor medication. The data show that consumption of greater than 500 ml acidophilus milk shortened the duration of the Salmonella carrier state.