Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, leading to high morbidity, recurrence, and healthcare costs. Probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii show potential as an adjunct therapy to standard CDI treatment, but further trials are needed t...

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Main Authors: Taned Chitapanarux, Umaporn Wiracha, Poramed Winichakoon, Parichat Salee, Patrinee Traisathit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04986-2
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author Taned Chitapanarux
Umaporn Wiracha
Poramed Winichakoon
Parichat Salee
Patrinee Traisathit
author_facet Taned Chitapanarux
Umaporn Wiracha
Poramed Winichakoon
Parichat Salee
Patrinee Traisathit
author_sort Taned Chitapanarux
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, leading to high morbidity, recurrence, and healthcare costs. Probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii show potential as an adjunct therapy to standard CDI treatment, but further trials are needed to confirm their efficacy. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii combined with vancomycin for treating mild to moderate CDI. 120 CDI patients diagnosed with positive stool toxin test were randomly assigned to receive two capsules of 250 mg of S. boulardii or a placebo every 12 h alongside 125 mg of vancomycin every 6 h for 10 days. The primary endpoint was the clinical cure rate, with secondary endpoints including recurrence, global cure rate, and diarrheal outcomes. Clinical cure rates were similar between groups (98.4% vs. 98.3%), but the combination group had a significantly higher global cure rate (96.6% vs. 85.3%, p = 0.044) and lower recurrence rate (1.7% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.032). No significant differences were found in diarrheal outcomes, functional ability, or adverse events. No patients discontinued treatment due to intolerance. In conclusion, adding S. boulardii to vancomycin reduced CDI recurrence without affecting functional recovery or increasing adverse events.
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spelling doaj-art-1a4458cdb0cb461ea4c69e94e97443c92025-08-20T02:31:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-011511710.1038/s41598-025-04986-2Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trialTaned Chitapanarux0Umaporn Wiracha1Poramed Winichakoon2Parichat Salee3Patrinee Traisathit4Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai UniversityDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai UniversityDivision of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai UniversityDivision of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai UniversityDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai UniversityAbstract Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, leading to high morbidity, recurrence, and healthcare costs. Probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii show potential as an adjunct therapy to standard CDI treatment, but further trials are needed to confirm their efficacy. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii combined with vancomycin for treating mild to moderate CDI. 120 CDI patients diagnosed with positive stool toxin test were randomly assigned to receive two capsules of 250 mg of S. boulardii or a placebo every 12 h alongside 125 mg of vancomycin every 6 h for 10 days. The primary endpoint was the clinical cure rate, with secondary endpoints including recurrence, global cure rate, and diarrheal outcomes. Clinical cure rates were similar between groups (98.4% vs. 98.3%), but the combination group had a significantly higher global cure rate (96.6% vs. 85.3%, p = 0.044) and lower recurrence rate (1.7% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.032). No significant differences were found in diarrheal outcomes, functional ability, or adverse events. No patients discontinued treatment due to intolerance. In conclusion, adding S. boulardii to vancomycin reduced CDI recurrence without affecting functional recovery or increasing adverse events.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04986-2Clinical cureClostridioides difficile infectionRecurrence ratesSaccharomyces boulardiiVancomycin
spellingShingle Taned Chitapanarux
Umaporn Wiracha
Poramed Winichakoon
Parichat Salee
Patrinee Traisathit
Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trial
Scientific Reports
Clinical cure
Clostridioides difficile infection
Recurrence rates
Saccharomyces boulardii
Vancomycin
title Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trial
title_full Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trial
title_short Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with Vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infection: A randomized controlled trial
title_sort efficacy and safety of saccharomyces boulardii as adjunct therapy with vancomycin in treating clostridioides difficile infection a randomized controlled trial
topic Clinical cure
Clostridioides difficile infection
Recurrence rates
Saccharomyces boulardii
Vancomycin
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04986-2
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