Streptococcus pharyngeus is a common cause of throat infection. The infection, commonly called "strep throat," is usually treated with antibiotics. Some evidence suggests that probiotics, which are tablets containing harmless bacteria that normally live in the body, can be useful in preventing or even treating sore throat. While their direct effect on the throat infection may be mild, probiotics do have a role in preventing diarrhea in patients who commonly suffer that side effect following taking antibiotics.
Prevention of Strep Throat
Some studies suggest that probiotics may prevent streptococcal throat infections. While this has not been tested yet in humans, here is some evidence to suggest that this may be possible. A recent article published in "Letters in Applied Microbiology" found that when lactobacilli, a bacteria used in probiotics, were cultured together with streptoccoal bacteria, the lactobacilli prevented the infective bacteria from growing. This, they concluded, suggested that probiotics could be used to prevent strep throat infections.
Treating Sore Throat
There is some evidence to suggest that probiotics, when given with antibiotics, may reduce the duration of strep throat infection. This is suggested by a meta-analysis published by "Cochrane Reviews" in 2006. This study, which included more than 2,800 people, found that patients taking probiotics had symptoms reduced by about three to four days. While probiotics were found to be beneficial, "the absolute benefits," they note, "are modest" and they should not replace antibiotics.
Preventing Complications
Streptococcal throat infections are associated with a variety of complications, including ear infections, sinusitis and quinsy, an inflammation of the throat. In addition, the infection is rarely associated with serious condition of the heart, such as rheumatic fever, and of the kidneys, glomerulonephritis. The meta-analysis by "Cochrane Reviews" provided evidence that probiotics reduced the incidence of most of these complications. Probiotics did not reduce the incidence of sinusitis, however.
Preventing Diarrhea
While probiotics may have only a mild effect on the symptoms of strep throat, they do provide a benefit to these patients. Many patients with sore throat are treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin. A major side effect of these drugs is diarrhea. Probiotics have been shown to reduce the duration of diarrhea in these patients. A study published in the "British Medical Journal" showed that patients who took amoxicillin and probiotics had diarrhea for fewer days compared to patients who went without the supplement.
References
- "Letters in Applied Microbiology"; Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG Inhibits Invasion of Cultured Human Respiratory Cells by prtF1-Positive Macrolide-Resistant Group A Streptococci; M.S. Princivalli, et al.; January 2009
- "Cochrane Reviews"; Antibiotics for Sore Throat; C.B. Del Mar, et al.; October 2006
- "British Medical Journal"; Probiotics in Prevention of Antibiotic Associated Diarrhoea: Meta-Analysis; A.L. D'Souza, et al.; June 2002
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