Bacillus Clausii in Liver Transplantation

Effect of Probiotic Administration on Infection Incidence Rate in Living Donor Liver Transplantation Recipients

A prospective, randomized, controlled study of the safety and efficacy of using Bacillus clausii probiotic oral preparation to decrease the incidence of infection during the first 30 days after living donor liver transplantation surgery.

Patients planned for living donor liver transplantation would be randomized to either intervention or control group 2 weeks before surgery. Intervention group shall receive Bacillus clausii probiotics for 2 weeks. patients in both groups would be followed-up for adverse events and signs and symptoms of infection up to 30 days postoperatively.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 - 65 years.
• Patients suffering from end stage liver disease (ESLD) with any etiology listed on waiting list and accepting to volunteer in the study with the informed consent.
• Patients not suffering from any active infection at the start of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with poorly controlled autoimmune disease on immunosuppression before transplantation.
• Patients who undergo combined kidney-liver transplantation.
• Patients with severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance <50 ml/min).
• Patients with intestinal obstruction (ileus).
• Patients with cerebral disorders with danger of aspiration.
• Patients with roux en Y-anastomosis.
• Patients with cystic fibrosis.
• Retransplantation.