Does Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 reduce hospital stay length?
This conversation examines whether Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 can reduce hospital stays. While no direct evidence exists, the probiotic shows moderate to high evidence for reducing diarrhea duration and gastrointestinal symptoms, which might indirectly shorten hospitalization in conditions like pediatric gastroenteritis.
Does taking Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 actually help reduce how long you stay in the hospital?
To be direct: there is no specific research in Pillser's database that directly measures whether Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 reduces the length of hospital stay as a primary outcome1.
That said, Pillser's database does show this strain has been studied for several outcomes that could plausibly influence hospital duration in certain clinical settings:
Outcome Evidence Level What the Studies Show Reduced Duration of Diarrhea Moderate 5 studies, all showing beneficial effects (dose: ~10⁸ CFU/day)1 Reduced Diarrhea Rate High 11 studies, 8 showing beneficial effects (dose: 1–4 × 10⁸ CFU/day)1 Reduced Abdominal Pain Moderate 13 studies, 11 showing beneficial effects (dose: 10⁸ CFU/day)1 Reduced Vomiting Frequency Moderate 3 studies, all showing small beneficial effects1 These outcomes relate to gastrointestinal symptoms, which makes L. reuteri DSM 17938 potentially useful in contexts like pediatric acute gastroenteritis — where faster resolution of diarrhea and vomiting could hypothetically lead to earlier discharge. However, no studies in Pillser's database have directly tested hospital length of stay as a specific endpoint.
In short: the evidence isn't there yet to confirm this strain reduces hospital stays. It has demonstrated benefits for shortening diarrhea duration and reducing GI symptoms, which may indirectly reduce hospitalization time in some scenarios, but a direct link hasn't been studied.
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