Acute Infectious Diarrhea

Acute infectious diarrhea (AID) is one of the most common diseases in pediatric age with relevant burden both in high and in low-income countries. Thanks to their direct action on enterocyte functions and indirect actions on the mucosal and systemic immune system and on intestinal microbiome, probiotics are an ideal intervention to treat AID in childhood. However, their efficacy is strictly related to strains and indications, and practitioners should take this information into account in clinical practice. This chapter summarizes the main mechanisms of action of probiotics in AID, with a focus on proof of efficacy supporting their use in prevention and treatment of childhood AID. The use of selected strains in appropriate doses is strongly recommended by guidelines of AID, based on compelling proofs of efficacy and safety. At present, therapy with probiotics of AID is probably the strongest indication for probiotic use in medicine. Their role in prevention of AID is however questionable in healthy population, whereas it should be considered in at-risk population. Evidence for prevention of diarrhea in day-care centers and communities is lacking, but consistent evidence supports efficacy in prevention of hospital acquired diarrhea. Finally, this chapter presents novelties on this topic, in particular the role of rotavirus immunization on probiotics effectiveness and the effect of probiotics and postbiotics on Covid-associated diarrhea.Overall: AID is the most convincing area for probiotic use in children with gastrointestinal disorders, and effective strains should be used early on after onset of symptoms.

Investigating causality with fecal microbiota transplantation in rodents: applications, recommendations and pitfalls

In recent years, studies investigating the role of the gut microbiota in health and diseases have increased enormously - making it essential to deepen and question the research methodology employed. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in rodent studies (either from human or animal donors) allows us to better understand the causal role of the intestinal microbiota across multiple fields. However, this technique lacks standardization and requires careful experimental design in order to obtain optimal results. By comparing several studies in which rodents are the final recipients of FMT, we summarize the common practices employed. In this review, we document the limitations of this method and highlight different parameters to be considered while designing FMT Studies. Standardizing this method is challenging, as it differs according to the research topic, but avoiding common pitfalls is feasible. Several methodological questions remain unanswered to this day and we offer a discussion on issues to be explored in future studies.

Acute Infectious Diarrhea

Acute infectious diarrhea (AID) is one of the most common diseases in pediatric age with relevant burden both in high- and in low-income countries.Thanks to their direct action on enterocyte functions and indirect actions on mucosal and systemic immune system and intestinal microenvironment, probiotics are an ideal intervention to manage AID in childhood. However, their efficacy is strictly related to strains and indications, and practitioners should take this information into account in clinical practice.This chapter summarizes the main mechanisms of action of probiotics in AID, with a focus on proof of efficacy supporting their use in prevention and treatment of infant AID.The use of selected strains in appropriate doses is strongly recommended by guidelines of AID, based on large and consistent proofs of efficacy and safety. At present, therapy with probiotics of AID is arguably the strongest indication for probiotics in medicine. Future research should investigate probiotic efficacy in at-risk populations and settings where the evidence is missing.Their role in prevention of AID is however questionable in healthy population, whereas it should be considered in at-risk population. Evidence for prevention of diarrhea in day-care centers and communities is lacking, but consistent evidence supports efficacy in prevention of hospital acquired diarrhea.Overall, AID is the most convincing area for probiotic use in children, and effective strains should be used early after onset of symptoms.