Lactic Bacteria and Their Use in the Prevention of Diarrhea

Abstract

The present invention concerns a lactic composition useful for the prevention or treatment of diarrhea such as antibiotic associated diarrhea or “tourista.” The composition according to the invention contains at least a bacterial strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus I-1492, Lactobacillus casei and a mixture of thereof.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of preventing or treating diarrhea comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising  Lactobacillus acidophilus  1-1492 strain deposited at the CNCM, a  Lactobacillus casei  strain, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or a nutritionally acceptable vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least 50 billion colony forming units (CFUs) of a population of living and active micro-organisms of a  Lactobacillus acidophilus  strain are administered per day. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least 100 billion colony forming units (CFUs) of a population of living and active micro-organisms of a  Lactobacillus acidophilus  strain are administered per day. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the diarrhea is antibiotic associated diarrhea. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the antibiotic associated diarrhea is caused by a  Clostridium difficile  infection. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the diarrhea is caused by a  Clostridium difficile  infection. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the diarrhea is tourista. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the antibiotic associated diarrhea is characterized by three liquid stools or more, five liquid stools or more, or nine liquid stools or more in a 24 hour period. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the composition is administered orally. 
     
     
         34 . A method of preventing diarrhea comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising  Lactobacillus acidophilus  I-1492 strain deposited at the CNCM, a  Lactobacillus casei  strain, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or a nutritionally acceptable vehicle. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the diarrhea is antibiotic associated diarrhea. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the antibiotic associated diarrhea is caused by a  Clostridium difficile  infection. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the diarrhea is caused by a  Clostridium difficile  infection. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the diarrhea is tourista. 
     
     
         39 . A method of treating diarrhea comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising  Lactobacillus acidophilus  I-1492 strain deposited at the CNCM, a  Lactobacillus casei  strain, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or a nutritionally acceptable vehicle. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the diarrhea is antibiotic associated diarrhea. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the antibiotic associated diarrhea is characterized by three liquid stools or more, five liquid stools or more, or nine liquid stools or more in a 24 hour period. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the antibiotic associated diarrhea is caused by a  Clostridium difficile  infection. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the diarrhea is caused by a  Clostridium difficile  infection. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the diarrhea is tourista.