Experience with the use of oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 for the prevention of recurrence of pharyngotonsillar episodes

Abstract

Relevance. Pharyngotonsillitis (PhT) is one of the most common recurrent upper respiratory tract diseases. Viruses are the most common cause of disease (Respiratory viruses, Enteroviruses, Herpesviruses), 30% are of bacterial origin. The most serious types of PhT are associated with group of β-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS) - Streptococcus pyogenes, in which antibiotic therapy is the first choice of therapy. In order to reduce the use of antibiotics, to prevent relapses of pharyngotonsillar episodes, a specific probiotic therapy was carried out using Streptococcuss alivarius K12 (SsK12). K12 (SsK12) is a probiotic strain that inhibits the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis in vitro. Materials and methods. A study was conducted in 90 patients with recurrent pharyngotonsillitis (PhT) of bacterial origin, in whom Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated during bacteriological examination. The course of treatment for patients of all groups was 30 days. Patients of group 1 (30 people) were treated with standard methods. In 30 patients of group 2 (30 people), in addition to standard therapy, the respiratory probiotic "Bactoblis" was used for a course of 30 days. In 30 patients of group 3, standard therapy was carried out with the use of the respiratory probiotic drug "Bactoblis" and additional sanitation of the lacunae of the palatine tonsils by vacuum extraction. As a result, in patients of groups 2 and 3, the frequency of PhT episodes significantly decreased, and the use of antibiotics decreased too. The most persistent effect of treatment was in patients of group 3 - the quality of treatment and prevention increased, the number of exacerbations decreased, the severity of clinical manifestations, and the drug load decreased. Individual intolerance to the components of the drug has not been identified. However, 6 months after the observation was started, the clinical and laboratory parameters of the main groups began to deteriorate, approaching those of the control group, and more stable therapeutic effect was observed in patients of group 3. Conclusions. The authors consider it expedient to perform tonsil sanitation twice a year, with further use of the drug "Bactoblis" in patients suffering from PhT. All human studies were conducted in compliance with the rules of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association "Ethical principles of medical research with human participation as an object of study". Informed consent was obtained from all participants.