What do systematic reviews say?

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics probably leads to lower incidence CDAD: complete case compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.4 [0.3, 0.52]
  31 studies · 8672 participants
  Moderate

Probiotics vs control

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 3484 participants
  Moderate

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics showed no clear difference in CDAD (baseline risk 0‐2%) compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.77 [0.45, 1.32]
  15 studies · 5845 participants
  Moderate

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics showed no clear difference in CDAD (baseline risk 3‐5%) compared with control (low certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.53 [0.16, 1.77]
  3 studies · 373 participants
  Low

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics probably leads to lower CDAD (baseline risk >5%) compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.3 [0.21, 0.42]
  13 studies · 2454 participants
  Moderate

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics showed no clear difference in incidence of C. difficile infection: complete case compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.86 [0.67, 1.1]
  15 studies · 1214 participants
  Moderate

Probiotics vs control

It is very uncertain whether probiotics changes adverse Events: complete case compared with control (very low certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.83 [0.71, 0.97]
  32 studies · 8305 participants
  Very low

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics may leads to lower incidence AAD: complete case compared with control (low certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.58 [0.48, 0.7]
  33 studies · 8870 participants
  Low

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics may leads to lower AAD (Adults) compared with control (low certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.62 [0.51, 0.76]
  23 studies · 7036 participants
  Low

Probiotics vs control

Probiotics probably leads to lower AAD (Children) compared with control (moderate certainty).

• Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea in adults and children 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.38 [0.29, 0.49]
  6 studies · 1141 participants
  Moderate