Health Canada approves Bio-K+® for reduction of C. difficile infections in hospitals

Hospital acquired C difficile infection remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality. An estimated 1% of patients admitted to hospital in Canada acquire C difficile, and an estimated 10% of them die regardless of their basis for admission to the hospital. Bio-K+® is the first natural health product to have a Health Canada approved claim for reducing risk of acquiring C difficile infection. Makers Bio-K Plus International Inc call upon health care providers and hospital administrators across the country to make coadministration of probiotics with antibiotics in hospital settings a standard of care. They estimate adopting such a standard would save the Canadian healthcare system over $200 million per year.