Vitami.n C lowers bloo.d pressur.e

Thursday November 6, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study suggests that probiotics defined by WHO as live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host may be enlisted to fight pathogens that cause respiratory illness in ventilated patients.

The study showed the probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum 299, prevented the most common cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) as effectively as an antiseptic called chlorhexidine (CHX).

The study was conducted by Bengt Klarin from the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden and colleagues and published in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care.

The randomized, controlled trial was meant to test Klarin's hypothesis that "swabbing the mouth with probiotics would be an effective (and microbiologically attractive) method of reducing pathogenic oral microorganisms in intubated, mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients."

VAP is a common complication affecting patients on breathing machines. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria from the mouth, throat or breathing tube are inhaled into the lungs.

The common preventative measure is use of chlorhexidine (CHX) solution as mouthwash to eliminate harmful bacteria, but the drug causes a number of side effects including irritation, tooth staining, and occasional allergic reactions.

In the trial, fifty critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation machines were randomly assigned either oral mechanical cleansing followed by washing with 0.1% CHX solution or to the same cleansing procedure followed by oral application of an emulsion of Lp299.

Samples were taken from the oropharynx and trachea at inclusion and at defined intervals thereafter for microbiological examinations.

The researchers found that "potentially pathogenic bacteria that were not present at inclusion were identified in oropharyngeal samples from eight of the patients treated with Lp299 and 13 of those treated with CHX (p = 0.13). Analysis of tracheal samples yielded similar results. Lp299 was recovered from the oropharynx of all patients in the Lp299 group."

One drawback for the CHX solution is that it will be dilated by saliva and can cause a number of side effects. In contrast, this probiotic solution adheres to the oral mucosa and counteracts potentially pathogenic bacteria 24 hours a day.  

But the trial is small although the results showed promise.   A large trial is needed to confirm the findings before the probiotics can be used clinically to prevent the upper respiratory infections in patients on ventilators or used as a common oral care product for healthy people.

For the details of the study, read the full report.