Guidance on the use of probiotics in clinical practice in children with selected clinical conditions and in specific vulnerable groups

Aim The use of probiotics has been covered by many guidelines, position papers and evidence‐based recommendations, but few have referred to specific patient groups or clinical indications. This review summarises recommendations and scientifically credited guidelines on the use of probiotics for chil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Paediatrica 2018-06, Vol.107 (6), p.927-937
Main Authors: Hojsak, Iva, Fabiano, Valentina, Pop, Tudor Lucian, Goulet, Olivier, Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo, Çokuğraş, Fugen Cullu, Pettoello‐Mantovani, Massimo, Kolaček, Sanja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
Bifidobacterium
Breast feeding
Catheters
Children
Coronary artery disease
Diarrhea
Gastroenteritis
Guidelines
Heart diseases
Hospitals
Infants
Lactobacillus
Nosocomial infection
Patients
Probiotics
Review
Saccharomyces
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Summary:Aim The use of probiotics has been covered by many guidelines, position papers and evidence‐based recommendations, but few have referred to specific patient groups or clinical indications. This review summarises recommendations and scientifically credited guidelines on the use of probiotics for children with selected clinical conditions and provides practice points. Methods An expert panel was convened by the European Paediatric Association in June 2017 to define the relevant clinical questions for using probiotics in paediatric health care and review and summarise the guidelines, recommendations, position papers and high‐quality evidence. Results The panel found that specific probiotic strains were effective in preventing antibiotic‐associated and nosocomial diarrhoea, treating acute gastroenteritis and treating infantile colic in breastfed infants. However, special caution is indicated for premature infants, immunocompromised and critically ill patients and those with central venous catheters, cardiac valvular disease and short‐gut syndrome. This review discusses the safety of using probiotics in selected groups of paediatric patients and the quality of the available products providing practice points based on proved findings. Conclusion Efficacy of probiotics is strain specific. Their benefits are currently scientifically proven for their use in selected clinical conditions in children and not recommended for certain patient groups.
ISSN:0803-5253
1651-2227
DOI:10.1111/apa.14270