Administration of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 does not prevent intestinal bacterial translocation in ascitic cirrhotic rats

SummaryBackground & aimsProphylaxis of bacterial infections in cirrhosis is based on the administration of non-absorbable antibiotics to decontaminate the gut and to avoid intestinal bacterial translocation, leading to the appearance of resistances. We assessed the usefulness of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 on the incidence of intestinal bacterial translocation in ascitic cirrhotic rats.Methods27 rats with CCL4-induced cirrhosis and 16 healthy rats were treated with L. fermentum CECT 5716 (109 UFC/day) or placebo as follows: cirrhosis + probiotic (A, n = 12), cirrhosis (B, n = 15), healthy + probiotic (C, n = 9) and healthy (D, n = 7). After 10 days, mesenteric lymph nodes were obtained as well as caecal content for microbiological cultures, plasma to assess endotoxin and biochemistry parameters and liver for histology.ResultsMortality (A: 2/12, B: 5/15) and intestinal bacterial translocation incidence (6/10, 60% in A vs 5/10, 50% in B; p = n.s.) were similar in both groups of cirrhotic rats, A and B. No differences on translocated species were observed. Plasmatic endotoxin decreased significantly in A when compared to B (A: 0.0098 ± 0.006 EU vs B: 0.0434 ± 0.031 EU; p < 0.05).ConclusionOral administration of L. fermentum CECT 5716 has no effect on preventing neither bacterial translocation nor mortality in ascitic cirrhotic rats.