Yogurt found to help MRSA super bug hospital victims according to the Telegraph, Times, Daily Record and The Sun

Why is Actimel in the News ?

Below are examples of the press coverage following the British Medical Journal's recent publication of the results of a study on Actimel.

Bristol Evening Post

COULD YOGURT BEAT SUPERBUG?

Yogurt drinks are being introduced on wards in two Bristol hospitals as the latest measure to tackle superbugs.Patients on antibiotics at Frenchay and Southmead hospitals are being given two bottles of probiotic drink Actimel a day to try to combat Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff).

The bacteria that causes the bug is found in the gut of three per cent of adults and generally only causes problems when certain antibiotics spoil the balance of normal bacteria.

Probiotic drinks help increase the number of friendly bacteria in the gut.

In a recent study published in the British Medical Journal they were found to reduce the risk of patients getting C.Diff.

Actimel, which can be found on supermarket shelves, also claims to contain cultures that can help the body's immune system.

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), which runs the two hospitals, has started a trial to see whether it can drive down the number of people suffering with the bug by preventing the negative effects of antibiotics.

Weston Area Health NHS Trust is hoping to be part of a similar trial taking place nationally.

The Trust, which runs Weston General Hospital, has been accepted on to a trial, testing the effectiveness of probiotics in fighting C.Diff and is now waiting for approval from its local ethics board.

NBT has a historic problem with C.Diff and fighting the infection is a priority for staff.

The Trust hopes handing out Actimel will back up the handwashing policies it already has in place.

Other measures include the introduction of dedicated cohort wards to treat patients with C.Diff away from other parts of the hospitals, a "naked to the elbow" policy for all staff caring for patients and more rigorous cleaning procedures, including steam cleaning of equipment and wards.

The Trust also encourages patients to ask staff to wash their hands before treating them when they feel this has not been done.

NBT spokesman Richard Cottle said: "Actimel has been proven to increase the number of friendly bacteria that help fight infections.

"These bacteria are reduced when patients are taking antibiotics in hospital, making them susceptible to the C. Difficile infection.

"The probiotic drink will be given to all adult patients at North Bristol NHS Trust who are taking antibiotics on admission or who start taking antibiotics while in hospital.

"They are encouraged to continue taking the drink for one week after finishing their course of antibiotics."

• Published on 02 Nov 2007
• Appeared on page 31
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