The Role of Prebiotics and Probiotics in Childhood Infection
Currently, there are no safety concerns for the use of prebiotics and probiotics in healthy infants and children. Critical risk assessment is required in immunocompromized children and in children with underlying diseases, in critically ill and in preterm infants. As probiotics are live organisms, there are potential risks of transferring antibiotic resistance to pathogenic bacteria, of gut translocation and subsequent development of systemic disease and sepsis, of developing D-lactic acidosis and of possibly adverse long-term effects on the gut microbiome. Proper handling and administration of prebiotics and probiotics as well as rigorous monitoring of potentially adverse effects will be essential for improving safety in children.
Safety
Currently, there are no safety concerns for the use of prebiotics and probiotics in healthy infants and children. Critical risk assessment is required in immunocompromized children and in children with underlying diseases, in critically ill and in preterm infants. As probiotics are live organisms, there are potential risks of transferring antibiotic resistance to pathogenic bacteria, of gut translocation and subsequent development of systemic disease and sepsis, of developing D-lactic acidosis and of possibly adverse long-term effects on the gut microbiome. Proper handling and administration of prebiotics and probiotics as well as rigorous monitoring of potentially adverse effects will be essential for improving safety in children.