Prevention of Clostridium Difficile Infections Using Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v Strain in Nephrology and Transplantation Department

Clostridium difficile is currently the most frequently identified pathogen causing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and the main cause of nosocomial diarrhoea. In regard to observed worldwide increase rate of infection and mortality from CDI the prevention of Clostridium difficile infections seems to be crucial, especially in patients at CDI high risk. So far, it has not been unambiguously proven that probiotics are effective in the prevention of Clostridium difficile infection among patients undergoing antibiotic therapy.

The Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (LP299v) is a Gram-positive lactic acid bacteria that naturally occurs on the surface of human intestinal mucosa. Specific properties to the gut mucosa colonization are due to mannose-dependent adhesion of LP299v to the epithelium of human intestines.This ability of LP299v leads to reduction of bacterial translocation from the intestinal lumen into the blood vessels, can prevent adhesion of many pathogens to intestinal epithelium and modulate the inflammatory response of the epithelium. The strain 299v of Lactobacillus plantarum has been found to decrease the severity of gastrointestinal adverse effects during antibiotic therapy. Limited data are available regarding the efficacy of LP299v for preventing Clostridium difficile infections.