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Prebiotic/probiotic supplements may not reduce AOM in infants and toddlers

51st ICAAC

Issue: October 2011

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CHICAGO — Infants and toddlers who received probiotic and prebiotic supplements to milk did not experience lower rates of acute otitis media, according to findings presented at the 51st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy held here.

The current study was conducted to determine whether prebiotic and probiotic supplements could reduce the risk for acute otitis media (AOM). The prebiotic used was Raftilose/Raftiline (Orafti), and the probiotic was Streptococcus thermophilus NCC 2496, Streptococcus salivarius DSM 13084, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LPR CGMCC 1.3724.

The study population included 224 children aged 7 to 13 months with a high risk of AOM. Eligible children had been vaccinated with (PCV7, Prevnar, Wyeth). Over a 12-month intervention period, 112 children received prebiotic and probiotic supplements and 112 children in a control group did not.

The primary outcome was the number of diagnosed AOM.

The final analysis included 486 reported AOM, of which 249 occurred in the intervention group and 237 occurred in the control group.

“If we compare the number of AOM episodes between the two groups, we see no difference,” Corrinne Levy, MD, of the Association Clinique Thérapeutique Infantile du Val de Marne at Saint Maur des Fosses in France, told Infectious Diseases in Children. “This result was very surprising.”

Compared with the control group, the incidence rate ratio for AOM in the intervention group was 1.0 (95% CI, 0.8-1.2). In addition, no differences were observed for antibiotic periods (IRR=1.0; 95% CI, 0.8-1.2), lower respiratory tract infections (IRR=0.9; 95% CI, 0.7-1.2) or recurrent AOM (OR=1.0, 95% CI, 0.5-1.7).

Both formulas were well-tolerated with regard to gastrointestinal disorders. — by Rob Volansky

Disclosures: The study was funded by Nestle. Dr. Levy reported no relevant financial disclosures.

For more information:

• Martin E. #G3-181. Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention of Acute Otitis Media in Children: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Presented at: 51st ICAAC. Sept. 17-20, 2011. Chicago.

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