Probiotics have only been shown to be effective in well-conducted, well-controlled studies in treatment of acute infectious diarrhea.
Probiotics have been used to manage all of the conditions below. Which of the following is the only condition with Level I evidence (well-conducted, controlled studies)?
A. Acute infectious diarrhea
B. Irritable bowel syndrome
C. Hepatic encephalopathy
D. Clostridium difficile infection
Answer: A
Probiotics have been used in the management of several conditions, including all of the options listed here. However, several randomized controlled studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics only in acute infectious diarrhea. For the other conditions, studies have shown limited efficacy.
Clinical Tips for Using Antibiotics and Corticosteroids in IBD
January 5th 2013The goals of therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disorder include inducing and maintaining a steroid-free remission, preventing and treating the complications of the disease, minimizing treatment toxicity, achieving mucosal healing, and enhancing quality of life.