A 24-year-old female patient developed sepsis resulting from preoperative administration of probiotics following an aortic valve replacement. Blood cultures revealed the causative agent to be the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which has recently been implicated as an emerging aetiology of infection in those taking probiotics. In the past few years, probiotic use in hospitals has increased greatly. However, there is growing global evidence that the use of probiotics in patients with organ failure, immunocompromised status and dysfunctional gut barrier mechanisms can cause infections. This and other reports show the importance of establishing generally recognized safety guidelines.
© 2011 The Authors. Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2011 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.