Saccharomyces Boulardii - a Probiotic of Choice

The term ―probiotic‖ was first used in 1965 by Lilly and Stillwell, to describe substances secreted by one organism which stimulate the growth of another probiotics as ―live micro-organisms‖, which, when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host .The use of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) and the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) has been tested in randomized controlled clinical trials. Probiotics have demonstrated an ability to prevent and treat some infections. The advantages of probiotic therapy include multiple mechanisms of action against pathogens, the ability to interact with the host’s natural defense systems, survival to the target organ and a good risk to benefit ratio. Saccharomyces boulardii is non-pathogenic yeast which has been used as both a preventive and therapeutic agent for the treatment of a variety of diarrheal diseases. The mechanisms of action of Saccharomyces boulardii depend mainly on the inhibition of some bacterial toxins, anti-inflammatory effects mechanisms of action of probiotics include production of pathogeninhibitory substances, inhibition of pathogen attachment, inhibition of the action of microbial toxins, Probiotics have demonstrated an ability to prevent and treat some infections. Effective use of probiotics could decrease patients' exposure to antimicrobials. Additional controlled studies are needed to clearly define the safety and efficacy of these agents.