Journal Reading

EFFECT OF PROBIOTICS ON DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN WITH

SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED
STUDY IN UGANDA
Benedikte Grenov, yHanifa Namusoke, yBetty Lanyero, yNicolette Nabukeera-
Barungi, Christian Ritz, Christian Molgaard, Henrik Friis, and Kim F. Michaelsen

Ni Wayan Dwi Novita

17360065

Preseptor:
dr. Aspri Sulanto, Sp.A
 BACKGROUND

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a major challenge

in low income countries and results in 0.5 to 1 million
child deaths annually.

Diarrhea is a major complication to SAM associated

with increased morbidity, longer hospitalization, and
death
 OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of

probiotics on diarrhea during in- and outpatient
treatment of children with severe acute
malnutrition (SAM).
 METHODS
Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit (MNU), Department of
Pediatrics and Child Health, Mulago National Referral
Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

• 400 children admitted with SAM

• Patients received 1 daily dose of a blend of
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis and
Lactobacillus rhamnosus (10 billion colony-forming
units, 50:50) or placebo during hospitalization
followed by an 8 to 12 week outpatient treatment
period, depending on patients’ recovery rate
• Analyzed using statistical software R version 3.1.1
HASIL RESULTS
DISKUSI
DISKUSI
 RESULTS
There was no difference in number of days with
diarrhea between the probiotic (n=200) and
placebo (n=200) groups during inpatient
treatment (P=0.69); however, during outpatient
treatment, probiotics reduced days with
diarrhea (P=0.025).
Number of patients that died in the probiotic
group (26 patients) compared with the placebo
group (20 patients).
 DISCUSSION
The mortality reports showed multiple severe medical
complications in most of the children, complicating
assessment of the exact cause of death. The most
common causes of death, according to the mortality
reports, were respiratory failure/severe pneumonia
and shock/dehydration related to severe diarrhea.
 CONCLUSIONS
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis and
Lactobacillus rhamnosus had no effect on
diarrhea in children with SAM during
hospitalization, but reduced the number of days
with diarrhea in outpatient treatment by 26%.
Thank you