Probiotics, zinc, inulin, and vitamin D as an ancillary treatment for patients with acute otitis

Acute otitis media (AOM) affects the middle ear and is clinically characterized by earache as the main symptom. Otitis media may be clinically suspected, but the otoscopy usually confirms the diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy is used in clinical practice, primarily in patients with severe symptoms. However, antibiotics often induce intestinal and respiratory dysbiosis associated with some clinical problems. Dysbiosis impairs the immune system and slows down the resolution of inflammatory events consequent to the infection. The current clinical experience was conducted in patients with AOM and taking antibiotics. All patients were treated with antibiotics and Abincol@ for two weeks, then a subgroup (ratio 1:1) took a one-month course of Abincol Immuno (R) (Group A), the remaining patients served as control (Group B). Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0), at the end of antibiotic treatment (T1), at the end of the Abincol Immuno (R) course (T2), and at the end of 4-month follow-up (T3). Globally, 821 outpatients (mean age 46 years) were enrolled: 389 (47.4%) in Group A and 432 (52.6%) in Group B. At T2, Group A patients had a lower frequency of fatigue (p=0.02) and pain (p=0.01). However, there was no difference in the symptom severity between groups, even if Group A patients experienced more minor symptoms than controls. In conclusion, the present clinical experience demonstrated that immune manipulation with this new multicomponent product might be considered an effective and safe therapeutic option in managing patients with acute otitis media and treated with antibiotics.