[Prospects of probiotic strains of bifidobacteria and enterococcus in treatment and prevention of diseases in gastroenterology].

Variability of the intestinal microbiota has been under close scientific study in recent years; more and more studies confirm specific changes in microbiota under certain pathologies. Enterococcus faecium and Bifidobacterium longum strains are naturally occurring symbiotic bacteria that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. The safety and efficacy profile of bifidobacteria, widely used as probiotics, has been thoroughly studied. Deviations in species composition, diversity, and relative abundance have been reported for some diseases. The aim of the research was to substantiate the need and to study the prospects for the inclusion of probiotics strains of bifidobacteria and enterococci in the complex therapy of gastroenterological diseases. Material and methods. The data from MEDLINE and PubMed-NCBI bibliographic databases have been analyzed in this review. Results and discussion. The published data indicate the positive effect of bifidobacteria on human health, starting from a direct effect inside the gastrointestinal tract, moving to modulating the immune system and, in general, the systemic effect of probiotics on the organism by changing the level of various mediators. Probiotic strains of Enterococcus faecium contribute to the preservation and growth of endogenous species of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Additional intake, as well as stimulation of the growth and activity of probiotic strains in the intestine can be considered as a potential approach to combating foodborne intestinal pathogens, to the treatment of lactase deficiency and irritable bowel syndrome. Conclusion. The inclusion of probiotics in the complex therapy of lactase deficiency, irritable bowel syndrome, as well as antibiotic-associated diarrhea is pathogenetically substantiated.