Probiotics are common in hospitals, but evidence is lacking

Many hospitals give probiotics to patients, even though there is little evidence that these so-called "beneficial bacteria" are safe and effective. In a nationwide study of 145 hospitals from 2006 to 2012, 96 percent gave patients probiotics. A total of 51,723, or 2.6 percent of patients discharged, had received them. Probiotics are marketed as dietary supplements and, unlike drugs, do not require the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. They are commonly given for digestive health, but a recent randomized, double-blind study found that they were no more effective than placebos for treating the diarrhea associated with antibiotic use or C. difficile infection.