Open AccessPrevention of traveler's diarrhea by the tablet form of bismuth subsalicylate
Author(s) -
Robert Steffen,
Herbert L. DuPont,
Rolf Heusser,
Andrée Helminger,
F Witassek,
Michael D. Manhart,
M. Şchär
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.29.4.625
Subject(s) - traveler's diarrhea , medicine , diarrhea , placebo , constipation , nausea , incidence (geometry) , regimen , vomiting , adverse effect , gastroenterology , antibacterial agent , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , optics , biology
In a randomized double-blind study, Swiss adults traveling to tropical countries for 12 to 28 days took a solid formulation of bismuth subsalicylate (1.05 or 2.1 g/day on a twice-daily regimen) or placebo. Efficacy was evaluated in 231 volunteers. Diarrheal incidence was reduced by 41% in persons taking the high dose (P = 0.007) and by 35% in those taking the low dose (P = 0.03) with excellent compliance. No serious adverse reactions occurred, but objectionable taste, constipation, and nausea were seen more frequently with active medication (P = 0.04). Twenty patients provided stool samples: no bacteria were detected in the 8 volunteers who were on active medication, but various bacteria were found in 5 of the 12 patients who had taken placebo (P = 0.04).