Table 1.
Characteristics of patients enrolled in the study
| Characteristic | Placebo group (n = 106) | Probiotic group (n = 102) |
| Age (years; median [range]) | 57 (18–80) | 60 (18–91) |
| Sex (male/female) | 81/25a | 65/37a |
| SAPS II score (mean ± SD) | 44.2 ± 15.3 | 44.6 ± 16.0 |
| Stay (days; median [range]) | 13.5 (3–88) | 14.0 (3–91) |
| Gastric tube (days; median [range]) | 11.0 (2–88) | 12.0 (1–90) |
| Urinary tract catheter (days; median [range]) | 13.0 (3–88) | 14.0 (2–90) |
| Tracheal intubation (nb/days; median [range]) | 100/9.0 (1–88) | 96/12.0 (1–90) |
| Ventilatory assistance (nb/days; median [range]) | 103/13.0 (3–88) | 99/14.0 (2–90) |
| Vascular catheter (nb/days; median [range]) | 105/14.0 (3–88) | 100/14.5 (2–90) |
| Antibiotic treatment | 105 | 101 |
| Antipseudomonas drugs (n; ceftazidime and/or imipenem and/or ciprofloxacin) | 43 | 55 |
| Fluconazole (n) | 26a | 45a |
aP < 0.05. bThe total number is indicated for characteristic when different from 106 and 102 for the placebo and the probiotic group, respectively. SAPS, Simplified Acute Physiology Score; SD, standard deviation.