Eradication of Salmonella Typhimurium infection in a murine model of typhoid fever with the combination of probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 and ofloxacin

The selected bacteriological, histological and biochemical methods were applied.Combined treatment with L. fermentum ME-3 and ofloxacin eradicated Salmonella Typhimurium from blood, ileum and liver, decreased the number of animals with liver and spleen granulomas and reduced the value of lipid peroxides in the ileum mucosa. Higher total counts of intestinal lactobacilli in all experimental groups were associated with the absence of liver granulomas.The antimicrobial and antioxidative probiotic L. fermentum ME-3 combined with ofloxacin enhances the eradication of experimental S. Typhimurium infection. These observations on probiotic and antimicrobial co-action may serve as basis to develop new strategies for treatment of invasive bacterial infections of the gut.Typhoid fever is a systemic infection caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi with 22 million of new cases registered annually worldwide despite various vaccination programs [1,2]. The prevalence of hepatobiliar system involvement is considered in 1–26% of patients with typhoid fever [3].Broad-spectrum fluoroquinolones are the drugs of choice for the treatment of typhoid fever [2] inhibiting even fastidious intracellular pathogens in therapeutic concentrations readily achievable in body fluids and tissues [4]. Despite the antimicrobial treatment almost 1–6% of infected patients become chronic carriers [1] shedding bacteria in their stools and urine for a varying period of time.One possibility to devise new strategies in treatment of bacterial gastrointestinal infections seems to be the application of probiotics as an adjunct to chemotherapy. Probiotic strains are defined as live microorganisms which, when consumed in appropriate amounts in the food, confer a health benefit on the host [5]. A number of clinical trials with controversial results have been performed with probiotics in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal infections, caused by rotavirus and Clostridium difficile [6-8]. In the mana