Optimizing the Management of Acute Diarrhoeal Disease

Grand Challenges Canada, BioMérieux, BioGaia AB, Copan Italia S.A., Botswana-UPenn Partnership, University of British Columbia

Many children admitted to hospital in Botswana without bloody diarrhoea are presumed to have viral gastroenteritis and so not treated with antibiotics - but they may indeed have a treatable cause for their illness. The investigators will conduct a randomized trial to see if rapid testing using novel methods to identify potentially treatable causes of diarrhoea leads to improved outcomes. The investigators will also be randomizing children to Lactobacillus reuteri DSM (daughter strain) 17938 therapy versus placebo (the standard of care) to see if this treatment decreases the duration of diarrhoea. The proposed study is a large multi-centre trial following the previous pilot trial.

Participants randomized to this arm will have rapid enteric diagnostics performed on the day of enrolment. Those found to have a treatable pathogen will be prescribed antimicrobials that day. Participants will also be given Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 5 x 10e8 cfu/mL x 60 days.

Participants randomized to this arm will have rapid enteric diagnostics performed on the day of enrolment. Those found to have a treatable pathogen will be prescribed antimicrobials that day. Participants will also be given placebo x 60 days.

Participants randomized to this arm will have stool specimens processed after the conclusion of the study. Participants will also be given Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 5 x 10e8 cfu/mL x 60 days.

Participants randomized to this arm will have stool specimens processed after the conclusion of the study. Participants will also be given placebo x 60 days.

Participants will have enteric specimens obtained using a flocked rectal swab, which will be transported in 2 mL Cary Blair medium. These will be tested using the BioMerieux BioFire FilmArray GI panel.

The probiotic given will be Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, 5x10e8 cfu/mL x 60 days, suspended in vegetable oil.

Inclusion Criteria: acute diarrhoeal illness (>= 3 stools in 24 hour period) Exclusion Criteria: diarrhoeal illness >=14 days bloody stool known inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, or malignancy live in a household with someone else documented to have a bacterial or parasitic enteric infection of defined aetiology live outside catchment areas no permanent address no access to mobile phone previous participation in this study nosocomial diarrhoea

Pernica JM, Arscott-Mills T, Steenhoff AP, Mokomane M, Moorad B, Bapabi M, Lechiile K, Mangwegape O, Batisani B, Mawoko N, Muthoga C, Vanniyasingam T, Ewusie J, Lowe A, Bonsu JM, Gezmu AM, Smieja M, Mazhani L, Stordal K, Thabane L, Kelly MS, Goldfarb DM. Optimising the management of childhood acute diarrhoeal disease using a rapid test-and- treat strategy and/or Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938: a multicentre, randomised, controlled, factorial trial in Botswana. BMJ Glob Health. 2022 Apr;7(4):e007826. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007826.