Probiotics have been tested for their efficacy in preventing infection with C. difficile after antibiotic exposure. Some of the most effective probiotics tested Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®), Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5®), Lactobacillus paracasei (L. casei 431®) and Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12®). However, most studies have focused on prevention of the first incidence of C. difficile infection rather than prevention of re-infection with C. difficile. Recurrence rates of C. difficile infection (CDI) among hospitalized patients are 15-25% - either as relapses caused by the original organism or re-infection following treatment. The potential of probiotics in preventing re-infection is less studied in these patients. Further, prebiotics which are carbohydrates only metabolized by beneficial bacteria have gained much attention the recent years for their health benefits through stimulating growth of specific types of bacteria in the gut, and recent data from mouse studies show that the prebiotic inulin can eliminate C. difficile growth, but the use of prebiotics in relation to C. difficile elimination has yet to be proven in humans. The investigators hypothesize that treatment with a synbiotic mixture consisting of inulin Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®), Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5®), Lactobacillus paracasei (L. casei 431®) and Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12®) can reduce the number of C. difficile recurrences significantly.
The investigators hypothesize that treatment with a synbiotic mixture consisting of inulin Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®), Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5®), Lactobacillus paracasei (L. casei 431®) and Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12®) can reduce the number of C. difficile recurrences significantly.