Use of Yogurt Prepared with the Probiotic Streptococcus Salivarius BIO5 Strain in the Control of Bacterial Tonsillitis in Children

Abstract

This double-blinded study aims to verify whether the yogurt prepared with a Streptococcus salivarius BIO5 probiotic strain can control recurrent tonsillitis in children. To this end, children with recurrent Streptococcus pyogenes tonsillitis consumed one of the two yogurt preparations daily for one year. The placebo group received the yogurt prepared with normal yogurt bacteria (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) whereas the treatment group received the yogurt prepared with the S. salivarius subsp. salivarius BIO5 strain. In the children completing the study, the recurrence of tonsillitis was about 89% in the placebo vs. about 12% in the treatment group. Furthermore, the children who dropped out from the treatment group showed about 3 times higher rate of infection. These data support the prevention of bacterial tonsillitis in children by daily consumption of the yogurt prepared with the BIO5 Streptococcus salivarius probiotic.