Prevention of Clostridium Difficile-associated Diarrhea by Daily Intake of Kefir

• Status: Terminated
• Trial end date: 2019-05-10
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study is being conducted to investigate the potential benefits of probiotic intake for preventing antibiotic associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infection in patients undergoing a systemic antibiotic treatment. The primary research question is: can daily intake of kefir, a yogurt-like food containing probiotics, reduce the incidence of diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infection in patients during antibiotic treatment?

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: St. Luke's Hospital of Duluth

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients who have:

• Been admitted to the medical unit on 7 West at St. Luke's Hospital (Duluth, MN)

• Been prescribed a systemic antibiotic of any kind (administered by oral or parenteral route), but have not yet started the regimen

• Consented to be randomized and take part in the study and are adults greater than 19 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who are/have:

• Tube feeding

• Undergoing dialysis and other renal treatment

• An existing C. difficile infection

• A recent history of C. difficile infection (within the last 3 months)

• A recent history of antibiotic use (within the last 3 months)

• Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, or other chronic gastrointestinal syndrome

• A history of acquired of genetic immunodeficiencies; active, acute or chronic serious infections (i.e., viral hepatitis, HIV/AIDS), or autoimmune disorders

• Undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, radiation, or cytotoxic chemotherapy

• Allergy to milk protein