Lactoferrin for the Prevention of Post-antibiotic Diarrhoea

Authors

  • Alison M Laffan Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • Robin McKenzie Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • Jennifer Forti Division of Geriatric Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • Dawn Conklin Division of Geriatric Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • Richard Marcinko Division of Geriatric Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • Ruchee Shrestha Division of Geriatric Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • Michele Bellantoni Division of Geriatric Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • William B Greenough III Division of Geriatric Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v29i6.9889

Keywords:

Antibiotics, Clostridium difficile, Colitis, Diarrhoea, Drug-induced, Elderly, Lactoferrin

Abstract

Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Older individuals in long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable due to multisystem illnesses and the prevailing conditions for nosocomial infections. Lactoferrin, an antimicrobial protein in human breastmilk, was tested to determine whether it would prevent or reduce AAD, including Clostridium difficile in tube-fed long-term care patients. Thirty patients were enrolled in a randomized double-blind study, testing eight weeks of human recombinant lactoferrin compared to placebo for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in long-term care patients. Fewer patients in the lactoferrin group experienced diarrhoea compared to controls (p=0.023). Based on the findings, it is concluded that human lactoferrin may reduce post-antibiotic diarrhoea.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v29i6.9889

JHPN 2011; 29(6): 547-551

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How to Cite

Laffan, A. M., McKenzie, R., Forti, J., Conklin, D., Marcinko, R., Shrestha, R., Bellantoni, M., & Greenough III, W. B. (2012). Lactoferrin for the Prevention of Post-antibiotic Diarrhoea. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 29(6), 547–551. https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v29i6.9889

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 6 (2011)

Section

Original Papers