Growth assessment of mixed cultures of probiotics and common pathogens.

Objectives: In this work, an isothermal microcalorimeter was applied to investigate the antipathogenic activity of three probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium bifidum) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the probiotics in mixed culture with the pathogenic microorganisms.

Methods: A microcalorimeter was used to monitor the growth of the microorganisms as pure cultures and as co-cultures at 37 °C. Relative growths of the probiotics and pathogenic species were determined after microcalorimetric measurements by serial dilution and plate incubation.

Surviving process and transit: Controlled freeze drying, storage and enteric coated capsules for targeted delivery of probiotic .

Viability loss of probiotics often occur during processing, storage and gastrointestinal transit. In this study, the viability of freeze-dried LA-5® was assessed after controlled freeze drying and storage at 4 °C and 25 °C over six months using glycerol, skim milk and trehalose as protectants. The freeze-dried probiotic was filled into hard gelatin capsules and enteric coated with the co-polymer Eudragit L100-55 using a fluidised bed coater to determine if the freeze-dried probiotic will survive the enteric coating process and remain viable during gastric transit.

Antibiotic prescribing and the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana: a pilot study.

Introduction: This study sought to identify the association of antibiotic prescribing and the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Ghana.

Methodology: Patients from the Male Urology Ward and Treatment Room of the Surgical Department of KBTH were followed up over three months to determine if they had experienced any unusual diarrhoeal illness after antibiotic therapy. 81 eligible patients (adults) were included in the study but a total of 70 patients (mean age of 56.

Assessing inhibitory activity of probiotic culture supernatants against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a comparative methodology between agar diffusion, broth culture and microcalorimetry.

Cell free supernatants (CFS) obtained from probiotic species are routinely used to preliminary investigate the antimicrobial activity of potential probiotic isolates by the agar well diffusion and broth culture. Both methods have documented limitations. In this work, the potential of isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC), a technique based on the measurement of heat produced by growing bacteria was used to investigate the antimicrobial effects of two commercial probiotic species (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12) and one reference strain (Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 11863) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIMB 8628 using unmodified, neutralised and heat-treated CFS.

In vitro inhibition of Clostridium difficile by commercial probiotics: A microcalorimetric study.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of some commercial probiotics on the growth of Clostridium difficile using isothermal microcalorimetry, a technique which can monitor the real time growth of bacteria. Commercial probiotic strains and products, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12, Probio 7 and Symprove™ were co-cultured with C. difficile in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth supplemented with 0.