The Use of Probiotics in Head and Neck Infections

Bacteriotherapy with Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB and Streptococcus oralis 89a oral spray for children with recurrent streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical study

PURPOSE

Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) causes a recurrent acute pharyngotonsillitis (RAPT) in children. Moreover, the repeated use of antibiotics contributes to its resistance. However, S. Salivarius 24SMB and S. oralis 89a were effective probiotics in other infections. Thus, we decided to evaluate this combination efficacy compared to placebo in RAPT.

METHODS

Patients with microbiologically confirmed GABHS were enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled trial. They received the aforementioned combination or placebo as an oral spray. We investigated episodes of frequency and duration, need for antibiotics, school days lost, the treatment impact on life quality, treatment compliance and side effects during a 90-day treatment and a 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

We included 41 patients in each group. The mean number of GABHS infection was significantly lower during both study periods for the two groups. However, our treatment group showed a lower rate. Moreover, the probiotic group had a lower mean number and a shorter median duration of GABHS episodes during both study periods than controls. Furthermore, the mean duration of antibiotic treatment was lower in the probiotic group during the 90-day and 6-month follow-up periods. Similarly, patients in the probiotic group showed a significantly lower mean number of absence days from school but higher EQ-VAS score. Indeed, all patients included were compliant to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified potential probiotics, possessing desirable features against GABHS pharyngotonsillitis. Our findings represent the first evidence which throws the light on using these probiotics that can reduce antibiotics use which did not have efficient results regarding recurrence.

Effects and immune responses of probiotic treatment in ruminants

Gut microbial colonization and establishment are vital to ruminant health and production. This review article focuses on current knowledge and methods used to understand and manipulate the gut microbial community in ruminant animals, with a special focus on probiotics treatment. This review highlights the most promising of studies in this area, including gut microbial colonization and establishment, effect of gastrointestinal tract microbial community on host mucosal innate immune function, impact of feeding strategies on gut microbial community, current probiotic treatments in ruminants, methods to manipulate the gut microbiota and associated antimicrobial compounds, and models and cell lines used in understanding the host immune response to probiotic treatments. As a lot of work in this area was done in humans and mice, this review article also includes up-to-date knowledge from relevant studies in human and mouse models. This review is a useful resource for scientists working in the areas of ruminant nutrition and health, and to researchers investigating the microbial ecology and its relation to animal health.

Bacteriocins to control Campylobacter spp. in poultry--A review

The unacceptably high frequency of Campylobacter jejuni transmission from poultry to humans encourages scientists to consider and create alternative intervention strategies to control the pathogen in poultry production. Extremely high numbers of Campylobacter (often >10(8) cfu/g of poultry intestinal material) potentiate high numbers of the organism on the processed broiler carcass with increasing consequent human health risk. Many scientists believe interventions during poultry production portend the greatest opportunity for reducing risk of disease. Over the past 10 yr, we have focused our studies on nonantibiotic bacteriocin application to intervene during animal production and this is the subject of the current review. The application of therapeutic bacteriocin treatments to reduce poultry colonization diminishes Campylobacter from >10(8) cfu/g of cecal materials to nondetectable or very low levels in treated birds. Further, the review provides scientists with a useful starting point for the further development of industry-applicable interventions leading to reduced transmission of this agent in human disease.

The dual role of bacteriocins as anti- and probiotics

Bacteria employed in probiotic applications help to maintain or restore a host's natural microbial floral. The ability of probiotic bacteria to successfully outcompete undesired species is often due to, or enhanced by, the production of potent antimicrobial toxins. The most commonly encountered of these are bacteriocins, a large and functionally diverse family of antimicrobials found in all major lineages of Bacteria. Recent studies reveal that these proteinaceous toxins play a critical role in mediating competitive dynamics between bacterial strains and closely related species. The potential use of bacteriocin-producing strains as probiotic and bioprotective agents has recently received increased attention. This review will report on recent efforts involving the use of such strains, with a particular focus on emerging probiotic therapies for humans, livestock, and aquaculture.

Advances in understanding the pathogenesis of pneumococcal otitis media

In this review, a state of the art on otitis media research is provided with emphasis on the role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of this disease. Articles have been selected by MEDLINE search supplemented with a manual crosscheck of bibliographies. Pathogenic mechanisms in middle ear and eustachian tube are described. Furthermore, pneumococcal characteristics and pneumococcus-host interactions are highlighted as well as the possible role of biofilms in persistence or recurrence of otitis media. Because of the availability of new techniques, an increasing number of pneumococcal features contributing in the pathogenesis of otitis media are identified and in-depth knowledge of pneumococcus-host interactions has been gained. The present advances in research on otitis media open up new perspectives for therapeutic or preventive strategies.

Efficacy of cefpodoxime in the prophylaxis of recurrent pharyngotonsillitis

BACKGROUND

Recurrent acute pharyngotonsillitis remains a common illness in children and young adults and can lead to serious complications if not treated. cefpodoxime proxetil is a second-generation oral cephalosporin, which shows potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and high stability in the presence of beta-lactamases.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of second-generation cephalosporins in the prophylaxis of recurrent pharyngotonsillitis in children.

METHODS

A total of 180 children aged between 4 and 14 years with recurrent pharyngotonsillitis were randomized to receive either cefpodoxime proxetil (100 mg twice a day, 6 days a month for 6 months) or placebo (at the same dosage).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that treatment with cefpodoxime proxetil may be effective in reducing symptoms of recurrent pharyngotonsillitis and preventing recurrences without causing side effects or developing bacterial resistance.