Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is one of the most frequent adverse events following antibiotherapy and is the leading cause of diarrhea in hospitalized patients. Ten to 25% of AAD are caused by the bacteria Clostridium difficile.~A recent unicenter study conducted at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital demonstrated the preventive role of Bio-K + CL1285 in antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. Its preventive role is thought to be mainly through restoration of the gastrointestinal flora affected in part by the antibiotherapy.~A wide body of literature reveals clinical use of probiotics, but few well controlled prospective studies conducted on large numbers of subjects have been performed.~In light of the positive preliminary results obtained in a limited number of patients with AAD and of the paucity of well controlled clinical trials, we now wish to undertake a randomized, double blind, multicentre study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bio-K + CL1285 prophylaxis vs. placebo in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in hospitalized adult patients. As secondary objectives, we also intend to evaluate the incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and to demonstrate that BIO-K + CL1285 agent will not only improve the clinical outcomes but also reduce health care expenditures.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bio-K + CL1285 versus placebo in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in hospitalized adult patients.