PROBIOTICS AND SYNBIOTICS IN CRITICAL ILL PATIENTS FOR PREVENTION AND THERAPY OF ANTIBIOTIC ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA -A systematic review

Abstract

Probiotics and synbiotics are increasingly coming into focus for clinical applications and are being intensively investigated in both somatic and psychological contexts. Current evidence demonstrates significant differences between the microbiome of healthy adults and that of patients with various diseases. Furthermore, numerous studies indicate that probiotic and synbiotic interventions can lead to measurable improvements in microbial diversity and functionality. As part of a systematic review, four studies involving a total of 399 critically ill adults in intensive care units suffering from antibiotic-associated diarrhea were analyzed. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic and synbiotic therapies with regard to clinical outcomes. The findings suggest a reduction in diarrheal symptoms, while no significant effect on mortality was observed. Due to the limited number of studies and considerable methodological heterogeneity, there remains a need for large-scale, prospective, and controlled investigations to formulate robust, evidence-based therapeutic recommendations for this specific patient population.

Datum der Bewilligung	2026
Originalsprache	Englisch
Gradverleihende Hochschule	Medizinische Universität Graz
Betreuer/-in	Henrika Voit-Augustin (Betreuer*in)