Recent research showed the "friendly" probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum 299 (Lp299) can prevent the most common cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) as effectively as an antiseptic called chlorhexidine (CHX).
The bacterium is found in saliva and also common in fermented foods like pickles and sauerkraut. VAP occurs when pathogenic bacteria from the mouth, throat or breathing tube are inhaled into the lungs. The study was led by Dr Bengt Klarin from the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden.