highly significantp < 0.001
However, when patients from each group were sub-divided into those presenting with VAP or not during the course of their hospitalization, there were significant differences within the placebo and probiotic groups: placebo-treated patients who did not experience VAP [no-VAP group] were found to have a statistically highly significant increase in neutrophils [ p < 0.001] between days 0 and 7; and the same was observed in the probiotics/no-VAP group.