bismuth-subsalicylate and Cholera

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.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibodies, Bacterial; Bismuth; Cholera; Diarrhea; Disease Outbreaks; Emergency Medical Services; Feces; Female; Fluid Therapy; Haiti; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Organometallic Compounds; Probiotics; Saccharomyces; Salicylates; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Vibrio cholerae