Table 1 Summary of available evidence and clinical effects of selected probiotic strains commonly used for the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea
| L. rhamnosus GG |
L. reuteri DSM 17938 | Saccharomyces boulardii | Bacillus clausii | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available Evidence | ||||
| Highest level of evidence | Metanalysis | Metanalysis | Metanalysis | Metanalysis |
| Number of RCTs in children | 16 | 4 | 22 | 7 |
| Investigational setting | ||||
| Country Income a |
High Upper-middle Lower-middle |
High Upper-middle |
High Upper-middle Lower -middle |
High Lower-middle |
| Inpatients/outpatients | Inpatients Outpatients | Inpatients Outpatients | Inpatients Outpatients | Inpatients Outpatients |
| Evidence in children living in Italy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outcomes | ||||
| Duration of diarrhea | ++ | ++ | +++ | + |
| Hospital admission | NA | – | NA | NA |
| Length of hospitalization | +++ | + | +++ | ++ |
| Healing within 48–72 h | + | NA | ++ | NA |
| Stool output | – | NA | NA | NA |
| Stool frequency | NA | – | + | – |