Probiotics to Prevent Severe Pneumonia and Endotracheal Colonization Trial
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2020-11-17
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Probiotics are commercially available live bacteria thought to have health benefits when
ingested. A literature review of probiotic studies in the intensive care unit (ICU) found
that in patients who receive probiotics, there is a 25% reduction in lung infection, known as
ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). There is also an 18% reduction in the chance of
developing any infection in the ICU. However, the studies reviewed were small and not well
done. Therefore, whether probiotics are really helpful or not is unclear. Before a large
carefully performed study is done to evaluate the effects of probiotics in critically ill
patients, a pilot trial was needed. The Investigators completed a multicenter pilot RCT for
which the primary outcomes relate to feasibility. Feasibility goals were met. 1) Recruitment
for the Pilot was achieved in 1 year; 2) Adherence to the protocol was 96%; 3) There were no
cases of contamination; 4) The VAP rate was 15%. This study is very important in the ongoing
search for more effective strategies to prevent serious infection during critical illness.
Probiotics may be an easy-to-use, readily available, inexpensive approach to help future
critically ill patients around the world.