Clinical utility of probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease.

Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use probiotics to manage this intestinal condition. Despite widespread use of these natural therapies by patients, health care providers may be unfamiliar with probiotics as a treatment modality. This review describes the rationale for use of probiotics in IBD, the history behind current research directions, and recent controlled clinical studies in which efficacy of probiotics has been explored in patients with IBD.

Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria combinations: a strategy to reduce hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile diarrhea incidence and mortality.

Incidence and virulence of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is increasing, particularly in institutional settings. Morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with this condition are high. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have long been recognized as the primary risk factor for CDAD due to disruption of protective normal gastrointestinal flora.