Bacteriotherapy decreases need of ICU admissions in Covid-19 patients, finds study

 A consistent number of SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects need hospitalization for lesions affecting more than 50% of the lungs. SLAB51, oral bacteriotherapy as a treatment for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be more effective. SLAB51 formulation is a mixture of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. A recent study by Giancarlo Ceccarelli et al has found that SLAB51 possess Arginine Deiminase Activity (ADI), which has been useful in contrasting the viral infection and mitigating the COVID-19-associated inflammatory status while waiting for the lung to recuperate its functions. The "oxygen sparing effect" of SLAB51 might be useful in the time-sensitive race to maintain oxygenation at sufficient levels and reduce the need for intensive care admissions. The study is published in the Journal of Nutrients.

The objective of the study was to investigate further bacteriotherapy mechanisms and how early they are activated, as previously reported studies about severe COVID-19 patients had higher chances of survival and a reduced risk of developing respiratory failure when administered with the probiotic formulation SLAB51.

The researchers used an analysis on the blood oxygenation parameters collected in sixty-nine severe COVID-19 patients requiring non-invasive oxygen therapy and presenting a CT lung involvement ≥50%. Twenty-nine patients received low-molecular-weight heparin, azithromycin and Remdesivir. In addition, forty subjects received SLAB51. Blood gas analyses were performed before the beginning of treatments and at 24 h.