Probiotic Streptococus salivarius K12 Prevents Streptococal and Viral Pharyngotonsillitis in Children

by | Sep 17, 2018 | 2014, Infant and Children's Health, Probiotics

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Children who supplemented with probiotic Streptococus salivarius K12 experienced a significant decrease in streptococcal and viral pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis along with significantly less missed school days and days requiring antibiotic treatment.

probioticsStreptococus salivarius K12 is a probiotic isolated from the saliva of a healthy child and intended for use in the oral cavity. In vitro studies have proven the K12 strain to successfully inhibit growth of not only S. pyogenes, a human pathogen associated not only with invasive and non-invasive diseases and the primary bacterial cause of pharyngeal infections 1, but also with Haemophilius influenzae and S. pneumoniae 2. Studies on Streptococus salivarius K12 suggest that the strain is able to colonize the oral cavity in the nasopharynx and adenoids 3 and can remain in tissue for up to over a month after administration 4. In both children and adults, the K12 strain demonstrates reduction of pharyngotonsillitis by over 80% 5,6 and appears to prevent against oropharyngeal infections as well as gingivitis 7. Given promising data on the potential of Streptococus salivarius K12 to prevent S. pyogenes and other viral infections, a study 8 published in Drug, Healthcare, and Patient Safety (2014) sought to verify the role of the K12 strain in reducing incidence of streptococcal and viral pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis in children with recurrent pharyngotonsillitis.

A total of 30 children (aged 3-13 years) residing in Milan, Italy and carrying a diagnosis of recurrent streptococcal disorder (no less than an average of three episodes during a four-month period) were enrolled in a 90-day, multicenter, non-randomized, controlled clinical trial. Children were divided into two groups, with half receiving Bactoblis (a slow-release oral tablet containing 1 billion colony-forming units of Streptococus salivarius K12) and the other half serving as an untreated control group. Streptococal infection was assessed throughout the treatment period and researchers evaluated number of days under antibiotic therapy and number of school days missed by children.

After 90 days, researchers noted a significant decrease in number of episodes of streptococcal pharyngeal infection in children treated with Bactoblis, when comparing to their infection rates the year prior (> 90%, p < 0.001). The treatment group also demonstrated a significant reduction in incidence of oral viral infections (80%, p < 0.01). On both parameters, no significant differences were observed for children in the control group. The total number of days spent under antibiotic treatment was 30 for the Bactoblis group vs. 900 for controls, and the total number of school absences was 16 for children treated with Bactoblis vs. 228 for those untreated.

Data from the study supports the prophylactic effects associated with administration of the probiotic Streptococus salivarius K12 in children with a history of recurrent oral streptococcal disease. Not only did treatment with K12 considerably reduce the number of streptococcal and viral infections, it also resulted in fewer days of antibiotic therapy and school absences. Replication of findings is warranted, and it would be valuable for future research to include a placebo group, a blind condition, and a larger sample size in their study designs.

Source: Di Pierro F, Colombo M, Zanvit A, et al. Use of streptococcus salivarius K12 in the prevention of streptococcal and viral pharyngotonsillitis in children. Drug, Healthcare, and Patient Safety. 2014; 6: 15-20. DOI: 10.2147/DHPS.S59665.

© 2014 Di Pierro et al. licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0)License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.

 Click here to read the full text study.

Posted September 17, 2018. 

References:

  1. Sharma S, Verma K. Skin and soft tissue infection. Indian journal of pediatrics. 2001;68:S46-50.
  2. Wescombe PA, Hale JD, Heng NC, Tagg JR. Developing oral probiotics from Streptococcus salivarius. Future microbiology. 2012;7(12):1355-1371.
  3. Power D, Burton J, Chilcott C, Dawes P, Tagg J. Preliminary investigations of the colonisation of upper respiratory tract tissues of infants using a paediatric formulation of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12. European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases. 2008;27(12):1261.
  4. Horz HP, Meinelt A, Houben B, Conrads G. Distribution and persistence of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the human oral cavity as determined by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Oral microbiology and immunology. 2007;22(2):126-130.
  5. Di Pierro F, Adami T, Rapacioli G, Giardini N, Streitberger C. Clinical evaluation of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the prevention of recurrent pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes in adults. Expert opinion on biological therapy. 2013;13(3):339-343.
  6. Di Pierro F, Donato G, Fomia F, et al. Preliminary pediatric clinical evaluation of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in preventing recurrent pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and recurrent acute otitis media. International journal of general medicine. 2012;5:991.
  7. Ishijima SA, Hayama K, Burton JP, et al. Effect of Streptococcus salivarius K12 on the in vitro growth of Candida albicans and its protective effect on oral candidiasis model. Applied and environmental microbiology. 2012:AEM. 07055-07011.
  8. Di Pierro F, Colombo M, Zanvit A, Risso P, Rottoli AS. Use of Streptococcus salivarius K12 in the prevention of streptococcal and viral pharyngotonsillitis in children. Drug, healthcare and patient safety. 2014;6:15.