Gustavo Gomes de Castro Soares
Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Brazil
Title: The use of B cereus in the treatment of hospitalized patients under enteral nutrition and use of antibiotics
Biography
Biography: Gustavo Gomes de Castro Soares
Abstract
Since it is multifactorial, the treatment of diarrhea in hospitalized patients undergoing enteral nutrition is a constant challenge for clinicians. The use of probiotics to treat diarrhea has been investigated for long term. The B cereus was shown to have antibiotic efficacy on several pathogenic bacteria in humans. It was also effective in treating intestinal gastroenteritis associated to antibiotics. In a recently published study of our group, we have tested the use of a single probiotic strain, B. cereus, compared to a fiber mix in the treatment of diarrhea of ICU patients on enteral nutrition. The use of soluble fibers has been accepted as an effective way to treat diarrhea of patients on enteral nutrition. In former probiotic studies, the period of five days was effective in diarrhea treatment. We have studied 58 patients, 29 on fiber and 29 on B. cereus treatment. All the other factors were similar. In number of patients, the cessation of diarrhea was similar in both groups. However, compared to fiber, the probiotic group was effective earlier (two days). Another interesting data was that specifically malnourished patients had a better response on diarrhea cessation on probiotic treatment. Our study opens a new research segment. There are questions which should be answered in future, such as the effect of a combination of fiber and B. cereus in the treatment of diarrhea. And the specific effects in patients with different malnutrition degrees. Also, B. cereus could be compared to another single probiotic, with the same dosage, in the treatment of diarrhea of ICU malnourished patients on enteral nutrition