Review: eradication therapy supplemented by probiotics increased eradication rates and reduced side effects in H pylori infection.

M e t h o d s Data sources: PubMed, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Science Citation Index, and Chinese Biomedical Database (all to October 2006); Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Issue 2, 2006); reference lists of retrieved articles; abstracts of major gastroenterological meetings; and authors in the field. Study selection and assessment: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English or Chinese that compared an eradication regimen consisting of proton pump inhibitors and 2 antibiotics plus probiotics with the same eradication regimen plus placebo or no additional treatment in patients of any age who had never been treated for H. pylori infection. Eradication was confirmed ≥ 4 weeks after therapy by histologic testing or 13C-urea breath test. Studies evaluating these regimens as second-line treatment for previous eradication failure were included. 14 RCTs (n = 1671) met the selection criteria. Quality of individual studies was assessed with the 5-point Jadad scale. Outcomes: H. pylori eradication rates and side effects.