Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 and acute intestinal infections: new data and an old problem

Acute intestinal infections (AIIs) have always been a significant problem in all age groups, particularly in children under 5 years of age. AIIs are characterized by high incidence and can result in severe or even life-threatening dehydration. Therefore, rehydration is the first and compulsory component of the treatment in these patients. In addition to oral rehydration, probiotics are crucial for AII treatment. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can improve the health of the host when prescribed in adequate doses. Multiple microorganisms with probiotic activity have been isolated so far. Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast, has a special place among all probiotics. One of its strains, S. boulardii CNCM I-745, has demonstrated its high probiotic activity and safety in numerous randomized clinical trials and confirmed by meta-analyses. In particular, in a randomized controlled trial SABINA conducted in Argentina, S. boulardii CNCM I-745 showed higher efficacy than Bacillus clausii in reducing the duration of acute diarrhea in children. In 2023, the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) provided updated recommendations for the use of probiotics for the management of AIIs. Among other things, it states that S. boulardii CNCM I-745 can be recommended for the management of acute gastroenteritis in children, since there is evidence of reduced duration of diarrhea. Thus, isolation of S. boulardii CNCM I-745 provided new treatment options for a wide range of diseases, including AIIs. Key words: acute intestinal infections, acute gastroenteritis, acute enteritis, probiotics, S.boulardii CNCM I-745, treatment, children, recommendations, Enterol