A probiotic mixture in patients with upper respiratory diseases: the point of view of the otorhinolaringologist

Upper respiratory infections are widespread in clinical practice. Antibiotics are frequently used in the management of patients with airways infection. However, antibiotics can induce intestinal and respiratory dysbiosis that, in turn, worsens respiratory symptoms. Moreover, respiratory infections per se can cause dysbiosis. Consequently, probiotics may counterbalance the disturbed microbiota. The current clinical experience evaluated the efficacy and safety of an oral nutraceutical containing a probiotic mixture with Lactobacillus plantarum LP01 (1 billion of living cells), Lactobacillus lactis subspecies cremoris LLC02 (800 million living cells), and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies delbrueckii LDD01 (200 million living cells), in 2928 outpatients with an upper respiratory infection and treated with antibiotics. Patients took one stick/daily for four weeks. Simultaneously, 2877 patients with an upper respiratory infection and treated with antibiotics were recruited as control. This probiotic mixture significantly diminished the presence and the severity of respiratory symptoms at the end of the probiotic course and, more evidently, after a 3-month follow-up. In conclusion, the current clinical experience suggested that this probiotic mixture may be considered an effective and safe therapeutic option in managing patients with an upper respiratory infection and treated with antibiotics.