Table 8 Summary of consensus statement voting and decisions using the 5-point Likert scale
Consensus statements and consensus voting | Decision |
|---|---|
1. Acute viral diarrhea is the best-established indication for probiotics administration in childhood. Probiotics have a promising role in the treatment of acute viral diarrhea. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 71% | |
Agree: 29% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 0% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 100% | |
2. Evidence has accumulated on the efficacy of probiotics in reducing the duration and severity of acute diarrhea in children. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 29% | |
Agree: 57% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 14% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 86% | |
3. Probiotics administration should be considered as an adjunct therapy for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. | Rejected: The original statement was revised to “Probiotics administration may be considered as an adjunct therapy for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.” and another round of voting was done. |
Strongly Agree: 14% | |
Agree: 50% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 7% | |
Disagree: 21% | |
Strongly Disagree: 7% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 64% | |
Probiotics administration may be considered as an adjunct therapy for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 55% | |
Agree: 45% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 0% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 100% | |
4. Probiotics significantly reduce the risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in adults and children. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 31% | |
Agree: 54% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 0% | |
Disagree: 15% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 85% | |
5. Bacillus clausii (O/C, N/R, SIN, TETRA) may be considered as adjunct to ORS and zinc in acute childhood diarrhea. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 54% | |
Agree: 31% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 15% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 85% | |
6. Bacillus clausii has been found to be safe in clinical trials conducted in Asian children with acute diarrhea. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 67% | |
Agree: 33% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 0% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 100% | |
7. Strain-specific poly-antibiotic–resistant Bacillus clausii is efficacious in reducing the duration and frequency of diarrhea, hospital stay, and financial burden. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 43% | |
Agree: 43% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 14% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 86% | |
8. There is very limited evidence supporting the use of probiotics for the management of chronic/persistent diarrhea in children. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 64% | |
Agree: 36% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 0% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 100% | |
9. Probiotics administration may be considered for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 71% | |
Agree: 29% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 0% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 100% | |
10. Physicians should evaluate the risk factors for the occurrence of AAD or Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, such as the class of antibiotics, duration of antibiotic treatment, need for hospitalization, age, comorbidities, and previous episodes of AAD or C. difficile-associated diarrhea when considering probiotics for prevention of AAD in children. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 33% | |
Agree: 53% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 13% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 86% | |
11. Bacillus clausii can be used as co-adjuvant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication. | Accepted |
Strongly Agree: 20% | |
Agree: 67% | |
Neither Agree or Disagree: 13% | |
Disagree: 0% | |
Strongly Disagree: 0% | |
Total (Strongly Agree and Agree): 87% |