# Lactobacillus GG May Decrease Risk of Nosocomial Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Infections in Hospitalized Children

 

 

      DynaMed Weekly Update - Volume 5, Issue 22 

Children can be at high risk of infections during hospital stays, and measures commonly used to prevent nosocomial infections, like hand hygiene, are not completely effective. A recent randomized trial with 742 children evaluated the efficacy of *Lactobacillus GG* for preventing hospital-acquired infections. Allocation concealment was not stated. Children, mean age 10 years, without gastrointestinal and/or respiratory tract infection upon admission were randomized to receive a fermented milk product with *Lactobacillus GG* (1 x 109 colony-forming units) vs. placebo (fermented milk alone) once daily during their hospital stay. The most common reasons for hospitalization were neurologic disorders (34.6%) and noninfectious pulmonary and immunologic disorders (19.3%). The *Lactobacillus GG* group had significantly lower rates of gastrointestinal infections (5.1% vs. 12%, p < 0.05, NNT 15) and respiratory infections (2.1% vs. 5.5%, p < 0.05, NNT 30) ( [level 2 \[mid-level\] evidence](http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/levels.php "http://www.epnet.com/dynamed/levels.php")). *Lactobacillus GG* was also associated with reductions in vomiting episodes (4.5% vs. 9%, p < 0.05, NNT 23) and diarrhea episodes (1.9% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.05, NNT 18). There was no significant difference in duration of hospital stay between groups, and longer stays were associated with increased infection risk ([Pediatrics 2010 May;125(5):e1171](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20403940 "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20403940")).

For more information, see the [Probiotics](http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=dynamed&id=252030 "http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=dynamed&id=252030") topic in DynaMed.