Lactobacillus plantarum 299v Reduces the Incidence of Clostridium difficile Infection in Nephrology and Transplantation Ward—Results of One Year Extended Study

Background:Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (LP299v) is a probiotic strain which influences on the intestinal bacterial flora. This is why, it has been introduced into clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of diarrheal disorders and alleviation of their symptoms in patients during antibiotic therapy. However, the use of probiotics in the prophylaxis of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in these patients is problematic. The aim of this clinical, retrospective, single-centre study was to analyse the incidence of CDI among patients hospitalized in the nephrology and transplantation ward in the period before, during and after stopping of LP299v prophylaxis. Methods: Among 5341 patients hospitalized in the nephrology and transplantation ward over a three year period, 34 patients with CDI were diagnosed and included in this analysis. From December 2013 to December 2014 all patients under antibiotic and immunosuppressive therapies received LP299v as a prophylaxis of CDI. The observation period consisted of three twelve-months periods: before, during LP299v use and after stopping of such method of CDI prevention. Results: A significant (p = 0.0003) reduction of CDI incidence during LP299v use (0.11%) was observed compared to two other periods, that is, before and after LP299v use (1.03% and 0.77%, respectively). Conclusions: Routine use of LP299v as a CDI prophylaxis may prevent CDI during antibiotics therapy in patients treated with immunosuppressive agents in nephrology and transplantation ward.