This randomized double-blind study investigated the effect of probiotic treatment in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with sepsis.

Inflammatory Improvement: Probiotic therapy led to a significant and favorable modulation of inflammatory cytokines. Specifically, the probiotic group showed a significant reduction in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and a significant increase in Interleukin-10 (IL-10) compared to the placebo group.

No Effect on Primary or Clinical Outcomes: The study did not find significant differences between the groups for the primary outcomes (intestinal permeability markers: zonulin and LBP) or for major secondary clinical outcomes, including PICU/hospital stay duration or mortality.

Safety: The probiotic treatment was found to be safe, with no serious side effects observed.

While the probiotics effectively and safely improved key markers of inflammation in septic children, the study could not demonstrate a clear benefit in terms of intestinal permeability or important clinical outcomes like length of stay or mortality.

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