Fecal Recovery of a Human Lactobacillus Strain (ATCC 53103) during Dietary Therapy of Rotavirus Diarrhea in Infants

Abstract

Human Lactobacillus strain GG (ATCC 53103) as part of the dietary therapy has been shown to shorten the duration of acute rotavirus diarrhea and to potentiate the intestinal immune response against the virus. We studied the ability of Lactobacillus GG to survive passage through the gut during rotavirus diarrhea in 29 infants, age range 5.4 to 27.5 months. After oral rehydration, they randomly received either a Lactobacillus GG formula or their normal milk ad libitum. All patients who received Lactobacillus GG became colonized with the strain as measured by fecal Lactobacillus GG counts. This result suggests that Lactobacillus GG may promote the establishment of normal intestinal microflora, even during acute gastroenteritis.