Saccharomyces Boulardii and Bismuth Subsalicylate as Low-Cost Interventions to Reduce the Duration and Severity of Cholera

Abstract

We conducted a randomised single-blinded clinical trial of 100 cholera patients in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to determine if the probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii and the anti-diarrhoeal drug bismuth subsalicylate (BS) were able to reduce the duration and severity of cholera. Subjects received either: S. boulardii 250 mg, S. boulardii 250 mg capsule plus BS 524 mg tablet, BS 524 mg, or two placebo capsules every 6 hours alongside standard treatment for cholera. The length of hospitalisation plus the number and volume of emesis, stool and urine were recorded every 6 hours until the study subject was discharged (n=83), left against medical advice (n=11), or requested removal from the study (n=6). There were no reported deaths or adverse study-related events. There were no statistically significant differences between the study arms and the outcomes of interest

    Similar works