Role of probiotic for impetigo in children

Back ground: Impetigo is the most common bacterial infection in children. This acute, highly contagious infection of the superficial layers of the epidermis is primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus Pyogenes. The Objective of this study is to find out the role of probiotic among children suffering from impetigo. Materials and methods: This was a prospective, randomized, single-blinded interventional study, conducted in Paediatric OPD, Dermatology OPD and Paediatric Ward in Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital for a period of 6 months. A total of 50 patients were enrolled in the study as per the inclusion criteria. They were treated with probiotic (50 million spores of Lactobacillus sporegenes, Streptococcus faecalis 30 million spores, Clostridium butyricum 2 million spores, Bacillus mesentericus 1 million spores) twice daily for 5 days. As a conventional treatment, Azithromycin 10 mg/kg/day once a day for 5 days given along with probiotic. Microbiological examination of pus from the first swab was used to prepare smears and was stained by Gram's method. The pus from the second swab was inoculated on blood agar and Mc Conkey's agar. Results: Bacteriological response and the clinical response were highly significant from baseline to the fifth day of treatment with probiotic along with azithromycin. Conclusion: The result of our study explores a new possibility in the horizon of treatment of impetigo. Since the adverse effects caused by probiotic are minimal and tolerable, it could be further exploited for the treatment of other inflammatory or immune conditions that are refractory to treatment with current chemotherapeutic agents.