Probiotics in the Treatment of Diarrheal Diseases.

Infections of the gastrointestinal tract are a major health problem worldwide, and many result in death, especially in the Third World. The approach to treatment and prevention of these infections has revolved around antibiotic administration for many years, but the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens is forcing people to look at alternatives to antibiotics. For more than 100 years, probiotic remedies (viable organisms that benefit the host by improving the microbial balance) have been used to fight infection. Now, substantial scientific and clinical evidence indicates that certain well-selected probiotic organisms can reduce the risk and duration of diarrhea.