Probiotics Against Pathogenic Bacteria in Connection With Anaesthesia

Probiotics for Reduction of Colonisation With Pathogenic Bacteria in the Oropharynx in Connection With Anaesthesia

Longer surgical procedures require intubation and there is a potential risk of contaminating the lower airways with pathogenic bacteria from the mouth and oropharynx.

Healthy people seldom have pathogenic bacteria originating from the gastro-intestinal canal but those do occur among patients, both in those not so sick and patients with more severe problems.

For ICU patients we have seen a reduction of emerging enteric bacteria in patients given oral care with probiotics and this is a pilot study to explore the possibility of the same kind of positive effects in patients due for longer (more than 4 hours of anesthesia) procedures.

Randomisation

• No prophylaxis
• Preparation with a probiotic suspension before intubation.

Cultures

• oropharynx

  • before treatment
  • after intubation
  • before extubation
  • day 1 postoperatively

• tracheal secretions

  • after intubation
  • before extubation

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients
• Planned interventions
• Anaesthesia > 4 hours and requiring intubation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ulcers in the mouth, oropharynx, oesophagus and stomach
• Current infections in the airways
• Known immuno deficiences
• Emergency cases