A recent study conducted by researchers at the Third Military Medical University School of Nursing and the North Sichuan Medical College and Hospital in China found that traumatic brain injury patients who were supplemented with probiotics reduced the number of infections and reduced duration of stay in intensive care. Each patient receiving probiotics received seven sachets of viable probiotics three times a day for a total of 109 bacteria. The contents of each sachet included: Bifidobacterium longum (0.5 x 108), Lactobacillus bulgaricus (0.5 x 107), and Streptococcus thermophilus (0.5 x 107)
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/12/02/Probiotics-help-with-brain-injury-outcome/UPI-69731322877162/#ixzz1ftuNJxud
Brain injury causes a state of hyper-inflammation, which the body attempts to calm by releasing higher amounts of glucocorticoids into circulation. These glucocorticoids cause a shift in immune function which makes the body less primed for attacking bacterial infections. Infections such as ventilator associated pneumonia and sepsis are serious risks for traumatic brain injury victims.
Probiotic administration increased interferon levels in patients, which are an important class of proteins that help the immune system fight pathogenic organisms.
