Lactobacillus Sepsis and Probiotic Therapy in Newborns: Two New Cases and Literature Review

Carlo Dani; Caterina Coviello C; Iuri Corsini I; Fabio Arena; Alberto Antonelli; Gian Maria Rossolini

doi:10.1055/s-0035-1566312

American Journal of Perinatology Reports, Table of Contents

AJP Rep 2016; 06(01): e25-e29
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1566312

Case Report

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Lactobacillus Sepsis and Probiotic Therapy in Newborns: Two New Cases and Literature Review

Carlo Dani

¹Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy

,

Caterina Coviello C

²Division of Neonatology, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy

,

Iuri Corsini I

²Division of Neonatology, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy

,

Fabio Arena

³Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

,

Alberto Antonelli

⁴Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

,

Gian Maria Rossolini

⁵Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Many term and preterm infants are commonly supplemented with probiotics to prevent adverse effects of antibiotic administration and necrotizing enterocolitis and they are believed to be safe. However, the supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has been associated with the development of sepsis with a cause–effect relationship in six newborns and children. In this study, we report two further cases and discuss the emerging issue of probiotic supplementation safety in neonates. We conclude that physicians must be aware that supplementation with L. rhamnosus GG can cause sepsis in high-risk patients on rare occasions.

Keywords

lactobacillus - probiotics - infection - sepsis - infant

Full Text

References

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