Enhanced Clostridioides difficile Infection Prevention With a Pharmacy-Controlled Policy That Adds a 3-Strain Lactobacillus Probiotic Concomitantly to Antibiotic Therapy.

When 70% of antibiotic users took a 3-strain Lactobacillus probiotic preparation the hospital-wide rate of healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile infection improved significantly. The incidence of C. difficile infection for those taking the probiotic along with multiple antibiotics or a single high-risk antibiotic was decreased by at least half.

A Decade of Experience in Primary Prevention of Clostridium difficile Infection at a Community Hospital Using the Probiotic Combination Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lactobacillus casei LBC80R, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2 (Bio-K+).

In August 2003, the 284-bed community hospital Pierre-Le Gardeur (PLGH) in Quebec experienced a major outbreak associated with the Clostridium difficile NAP1/027/BI strain. Augmented standard preventive measures (SPMs) were not able to control this outbreak. It was decided in February 2004 to give to every adult inpatient on antibiotics, without any exclusion, a probiotic (Bio-K+: Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, Lactobacillus casei LBC80R, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2) within 12 hours of the antibiotic prescription. Augmented SPMs were continued. The use of the probiotic in addition to SPMs was associated with a marked reduction of C. difficile infection (CDI). During the 10 years of observation, 44 835 inpatients received Bio-K+, and the CDI rate at PLGH declined from 18.0 cases per 10,000 patient-days and remained at low mean levels of 2.3 cases per 10,000 patient-days. Additionally, 10-year data collected by the Ministry of Health in Quebec comparing the CDI rate between Quebec hospitals showed that CDI rates at PLGH were consistently and continuously lower compared with those at similar hospitals. Blood cultures were monitored at PLGH for Lactobacillus bacteremia through the 10 years' experience, and no Lactobacillus bacteremias were detected. Despite the limitation of an observational study, we concluded that the probiotic Bio-K+ was safe and effective in decreasing our primary CDI rate.

Pathway to Prevention of Nosocomial Clostridium difficile Infection.

BACKGROUND: To address the significant morbidity and mortality rates associated with nosocomial Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), a series of recommendations and a pathway to prevention were developed. METHODS: An expert panel of infectious disease (ID) specialists participated in a modified Delphi process with specific objectives: (1) conduct a review for CDAD and prevention; (2) develop statements based upon panel members' opinions; (3) hold a panel meeting during the 2012 IDWeek; and (4) review the final recommendations and prevention pathway prior to submission for publication. RESULTS: The panel voted on (1) antibiotic stewardship (7 of 8 panelists); (2) reduction of other potentially modifiable risk factors (variable); (3) utilization of specific probiotics to prevent C. difficile overgrowth (8/8); (4) staff education regarding CDAD preventive measures (8/8); (5) appropriate hand hygiene for everyone (7/8); (6) environmental cleaning (8/8); (7) medical equipment disinfection (7/8); (8) early detection of CDAD in symptomatic patients (7/8); (9) usage of protective clothing/gloves (8/8); (10) proper measures during outbreak (8/8); and (11) surveillance to monitor efficacy data of preventive measures (8/8). CONCLUSIONS: The panel members agreed with 11 of 17 recommendations presented. The additional recommendations by the panel were proton pump inhibitor use as a risk factor and the use of adjunctive therapy with specific probiotic, as it was approved by Health Canada for the risk reduction of CDAD in hospitalized patients.

Is primary prevention of Clostridium difficile infection possible with specific probiotics?

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is highly controversial, particularly with regard to the prevention of recurrent CDI. We hypothesize that primary prevention of CDI among patients receiving antibiotics might be a more achievable goal for probiotics than prevention in patients with previous CDI where the host flora is markedly altered. METHODS: We conducted a literature search for randomized, placebo-controlled efficacy studies of probiotic use among adults receiving antibiotics, in which CDI was one of the outcomes measured. In addition, we conducted meta-analyses of probiotics that were included in more than one randomized trial. RESULTS: Eleven studies were identified; most were seriously underpowered to determine the efficacy of probiotics in the prevention of CDI. Two showed significantly lower rates of CDI among the probiotic recipients. A meta-analysis of three studies that used the probiotic combination Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 and Lactobacillus casei LBC80R and a combined analysis of those studies with four studies that used Saccharomyces boulardii, showed lower CDI rates in recipients of probiotics compared with recipients of placebo (risk ratio=0.39; 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: While potential flaws in study design were identified, a review of the available literature suggests that the primary prevention of CDI with specific probiotic agents may be achievable. Additional studies of sufficient size and with rigorous design are needed to confirm these findings.