The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Probiotics for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 2012; 307: 1959–1969.

Published: 12th November 2012

Authors: Hempel S, Newberry SJ, Maher AR, Wang Z, Miles JNV, Shanman R et al.

Conclusion

There were 82 randomized trials overall; 63 (11,811 participants) evaluated the effects of lactobacillus. There was a significant reduction in diarrhoea using lactobacillus: relative risk 0.58, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.5 to 0.68, P<0.001; number needed to treat 13.

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