RESULTS: In the first study, the incidence of antibioticassociated
diarrhea (AAD) was significantly reduced
in the intervention group (6.5% vs 28.4%), and the
duration of AAD in days was significantly shorter (1.7
± 1.1 vs 3.1 ± 2.1). Higher age and creatinine and
lower albumin were identified as risk factors for AAD.
Ampicillin was the antibiotic with the highest rate of
AAD (50%) and with the greatest AAD reduction in the
probiotic group (4.2%, relative risk reduction 92%). The
economic analysis showed a cost advantage of nearly
60000 €/year in a department of this size. The second
study confirmed the preventive effect of the drink with
Lactobacillus casei DN114001; however, there were no
advantages found for the other tested probiotic drink
containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota.