Clinical experience of Streptococcus salivarius K12 use for the prevention of pharyngotonsillitis and respiratory infections in children

• Main Authors: T.O. Kryuchko, O.Ya. Tkachenko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House Zaslavsky 2018-10-01
• Series: Zdorovʹe Rebenka
• Subjects: pharyngotonsillitis; acute respiratory infections; children; lantibiotics
• Online Access: http://childshealth.zaslavsky.com.ua/article/view/148915
• ISSN: 2224-0551; 2307-1168

Background. Streptococcus salivarius K12 (SsK12) is an oral colonizing, persistent, antibiotic-sensitive and safe strain that produces two megaplasmid-encoded class I lantibiotics, namely salivaricin A2 and salivaricin B, which expression inhibits the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes involved in the etiopathogenesis of pharyngotonsillar infection, and, to a smal­ler degree, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Our previous work has shown that a ­30-day use of SsK12 in subjects with recurrent upper respiratory tract diseases significantly decrease the degree of colonization of the oropharyngeal mucosa by pathogenic microorganisms. Materials and methods. An open-label clinical trial was conducted, it included 48 children with pharyngotonsillitis and recurrent upper respiratory tract diseases. They took a lantibiotic with Streptococcus salivarius K12 (Bactoblis) according to the instruction. Results. In children who received SsK12 twice for 30 days with an interval of three months, the episodes of pharyngotonsillar infection are associated with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal and non-streptococcal pharyngotonsillar infections, which was significantly reduced due to prophylaxis of SsK12 (approximately for 80 %) in both cases. The examined group of patients had a significant decrease in the frequency of episodes of viral pharyngitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, stomatitis and acute otitis media after using lantibiotic. Finally, as is was shown, prophylaxis with Bactoblis significantly reduced the use of both antibiotics and antipyretics/anti-inflammatory drugs for more than 80 % and significantly decreased the number of preschool or school days lost by children — for 81 and 77 %, respectively. Conclusions. Taking into consideration that a good compliance and tolerability were excellent in all who took SsK12 except one child, there is a necessity for prolonged use of Bactoblis in order to achieve maximum therapeutic effect. Repeated courses 2–3 times a year are recommended.