The High Incidence of Bacteremia in Children Undergoing Surgery Can Be Prevented by Bifidobacterium Supplementation

Abstract

Major surgical procedures can alter intestinal microbiota and disrupt the intestinal barrier function, leaving the patient at risk for infection. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that confer a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts. Although the efficacy of administering probiotics perioperatively to adults has been reported, the clinical significance of probiotics in children undergoing surgery is still unclear. This study provides a brief overview of our randomized controlled trial of preoperative probiotic administration to children, and discusses the relationship between probiotics and their effects in the perioperative period, particularly focusing on bacteremia.

Dynamic analysis of human small intestinal microbiota after an ingestion of fermented milk by small-intestinal fluid perfusion using an endoscopic retrograde bowel insertion technique

“…A large number of probiotics have been proposed, and some have been shown to reach the intestines in a viable state 19,20 and to beneficially affect the host. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] However, what happens to the ingested probiotics between ingestion and excretion in feces and how they exert their physiological effects has been unclear. Here we have shed light on some of these processes that were previously considered to be a "black box.…”

“…In terms of benefit to the host, probiotics have been shown in numerous human and animal studies to improve gastrointestinal symptoms, 3 , 4 bowel habits, 5 constipation, 6 host defense against infection, 7 - 10 immunological control, 11 , 12 cancer prevention, 13 , 14 stress-associated symptoms, 15 - 17 and sleep. 18 The recovery of orally ingested strains in fecal samples has been investigated in several studies 19 , 20 to examine the ability of probiotics to reach the intestines in a viable state.…”