Peter J Watkinson1, Vicki S Barber, Paul Dark, J Duncan Young. 1. Intensive Care Society Trials Group, Kadoorie Centre, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. peter.watkinson@nda.ox.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: This review investigated whether the administration of enteral pre-, pro- and synbiotics compared with controls in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients reduced the incidence of nosocomial infections, length of ICU stay, hospital mortality and specifically pneumonia. METHODS: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing enteral feeding and pre-, pro- or synbiotics, versus standard enteral feed alone, in patients admitted to adult ICUs. RESULTS: Eight randomised studies with a total of 999 critically ill adult patients met the inclusion criteria. Pre- pro- or synbiotics were not associated with any significant change in the outcomes studied-length of ICU stay, hospital mortality and the incidence of nosocomial infection and more specifically pneumonia incidence. Few data were available for other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of pre- pro- or synbiotics in adult critically ill patients confers no statistically significant benefit in the outcome criteria studied. There is currently a lack of evidence to support the use of pre- pro- or synbiotics in patients admitted to adult ICUs, and a large well-designed trial is needed in this area.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: This review investigated whether the administration of enteral pre-, pro- and synbiotics compared with controls in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients reduced the incidence of nosocomial infections, length of ICU stay, hospital mortality and specifically pneumonia. METHODS: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing enteral feeding and pre-, pro- or synbiotics, versus standard enteral feed alone, in patients admitted to adult ICUs. RESULTS: Eight randomised studies with a total of 999 critically ill adult patients met the inclusion criteria. Pre- pro- or synbiotics were not associated with any significant change in the outcomes studied-length of ICU stay, hospital mortality and the incidence of nosocomial infection and more specifically pneumonia incidence. Few data were available for other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of pre- pro- or synbiotics in adult critically ill patients confers no statistically significant benefit in the outcome criteria studied. There is currently a lack of evidence to support the use of pre- pro- or synbiotics in patients admitted to adult ICUs, and a large well-designed trial is needed in this area.
Authors: Simone V Generoso; Mirelle L Viana; Rosana G Santos; Rosa M E Arantes; Flaviano S Martins; Jacques R Nicoli; José A N Machado; Maria Isabel T D Correia; Valbert N Cardoso Journal: Eur J Nutr Date: 2010-10-10 Impact factor: 5.614
Authors: David J W Knight; Dale Gardiner; Amanda Banks; Susan E Snape; Vivienne C Weston; Stig Bengmark; Keith J Girling Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2008-12-16 Impact factor: 17.440