Among critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation, administration of the probiotic L rhamnosus GG compared with placebo, resulted in no significant difference in the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. These findings do not support the use of L rhamnosus GG in critically ill patients.
Effect of Probiotics on Incident Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients
JAMA
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 11 A.M. (ET), TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
Probiotic strains are genetic subtypes of species. Each probiotic strain has a different effect on the body. These are six common strains of probiotics that you’ll find on food and supplement labels:
Bifidobacteria animalis: This strain helps aid digestion and fight food-borne bacteria. It’s also thought to boost your immune system.
Bifidobacteria breve: This strain lives in your digestive tract and in the vagina. In both places, it fights off infection-causing bacteria or yeast. It helps your body absorb nutrients by fermenting sugars. It also breaks down plant fiber to make it digestible.
Bifidobacteria lactis: This is derived from raw milk. It’s an ingredient found in some infant formula, but it also serves as a starter for buttermilk, cottage cheese, and other cheeses.
Bifidobacteria longum: This strain lives in your gastrointestinal tract. It helps break down carbohydrates.
Lactobacillus acidophilus: This strain is found in the small intestine and in the vagina. Like bifidobacteria breve, it helps digestion and may help fight off vaginal bacteria. You can find it in yogurt and fermented soy products, such as miso.
Lactobacillus reuteri: This strain is found in the intestine and mouth. One study showed that it decreased the oral bacteria that cause tooth decay. It’s also thought to help the digestive system.
Bidobacteria, previously shown to suppress other bacteria such as H. pylori and have proven active against irritable bowel syndrome, had such anti-Covid activity.
a single high dose of an appropriate strain of bifidobacterium (such as BB-12, or infantis) and especially in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting), may be postulated to have a role in the management of coronavirus infected patients.
In support of this proposal it should be noted that Jayawardena25 reported that bifidobacterium probiotic strains either reduced the severity or shortenes the duration of viral infections; in another report, Bifidobacterium infantis reduced the duration of acute respiratory infections illness in children and adults.