<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Antibiotics are important for saving both human health and life. Antibiotics destroy all bacteria within their spectrum, because they do not distinguish between good and bad bacteria. Even if an antibiotic therapy lasts only a few days, it may cause diarrhoea and mycosis. Antibiotics destroy most bacterial species in the intestines. These changes may affect one’s whole life. Today it is a challenge for medicine to be able to manipulate the microbiome so as to restore normal relations between microorganisms. At present, when antibiotics are abused, probiotics are very often applied. However, as there are no recommendations, a lot of mistakes can be made when using them. Both drugs and dietary supplements can be classified as probiotics. Medicinal probiotics are subject to very strict registration requirements and their use is associated with a specific disease or ailment. Probiotic microorganisms must be classified according to their genus, species and strain. These preparations may contain one or more probiotic strains depending on its application. At present there are no established schemes or rules concerning the dosage of probiotic preparations. This issue arouses numerous controversies. It is assumed that the probiotic should be applied at a dose which proved to have a beneficial effect in tests conducted on humans. Patients usually make decisions on the choice and dosage of preparations themselves. Individualised probiotic therapy is the key to success. There is no universal preparation – a specific probiotic should be used in a particular clinical case.</p>
</abstract>

Antibiotics are important for saving both human health and life. Antibiotics destroy all bacteria within their spectrum, because they do not distinguish between good and bad bacteria. Even if an antibiotic therapy lasts only a few days, it may cause diarrhoea and mycosis. Antibiotics destroy most bacterial species in the intestines. These changes may affect one’s whole life. Today it is a challenge for medicine to be able to manipulate the microbiome so as to restore normal relations between microorganisms. At present, when antibiotics are abused, probiotics are very often applied. However, as there are no recommendations, a lot of mistakes can be made when using them. Both drugs and dietary supplements can be classified as probiotics. Medicinal probiotics are subject to very strict registration requirements and their use is associated with a specific disease or ailment. Probiotic microorganisms must be classified according to their genus, species and strain. These preparations may contain one or more probiotic strains depending on its application. At present there are no established schemes or rules concerning the dosage of probiotic preparations. This issue arouses numerous controversies. It is assumed that the probiotic should be applied at a dose which proved to have a beneficial effect in tests conducted on humans. Patients usually make decisions on the choice and dosage of preparations themselves. Individualised probiotic therapy is the key to success. There is no universal preparation – a specific probiotic should be used in a particular clinical case.

The issue of the correct use of probiotics in the absence of recommendations

H. Święcicki Clinical Hospital at the Medical University in Poznań

Department of Dermatology and Venereology

Department of Genetics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Problemy prawidłowego stosowania probiotyków w związku z brakiem rekomendacji

Antibiotics are important for saving both human health and life. Antibiotics destroy all bacteria within their spectrum, because they do not distinguish...

The issue of the correct use of probiotics in the absence of recommendations

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Feb 25, 2021

Page range: 107 - 115

Received: Jan 13, 2020

Accepted: Nov 09, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.7701

Keywords
probiotics, dietary supplements, antibiotics, gut microbiome, recommendations

© 2021 Hanna Tomczak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The issue of the correct use of probiotics in the absence of recommendations

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Feb 25, 2021

Page range: 107 - 115

Received: Jan 13, 2020

Accepted: Nov 09, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.7701

Keywordsprobiotics, dietary supplements, antibiotics, gut microbiome, recommendations

© 2021 Hanna Tomczak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
probiotics, dietary supplements, antibiotics, gut microbiome, recommendations