How Safe is Safe? – A Case of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei Endocarditis and Discussion of the Safety of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Soleman, Nadia; Laferl, Hermann; Kneifel, Wolfgang; Tucek, Gerhard; Budschedl, Erich; Weber, Heinz; Pichler, H; Mayer, Hans

doi:10.1080/00365540310015872

Cited by 33 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Furthermore, these bacteria are typically known to convey benefits to individuals and are widely consumed in yoghurts and as probiotics (Ouwehand et al, 2002). However, there is increasing evidence that particular lactic acid bacteria are of pathogenic relevance (Cannon et al, 2005) and are able to cause more severe diseases such as endocarditis (Soleman et al, 2003). In one of our own studies Lactobacillus iners was identified to contribute significantly to UTI (Domann et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden pathogens uncovered: metagenomic analysis of urinary tract infections

et al. 2008

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Summary Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common kidney and urologic diseases in industrial nations and are usually caused through faecal contamination of the urinary tract. In this study, we have examined 1449 urine specimens both by culture and by PCR. The majority of UTIs examined were caused by Escherichia coli (35.15%), followed by miscellaneous bacteria (23.03%), and by Enterococcus faecalis (19.39%). A large fraction of fastidious and anaerobic bacteria (22.43%) was not detected under culture conditions but only by using PCR. This group of bacteria evade the standard culture conditions used in routine diagnostic laboratories examining urine specimens. The molecular approach used broad‐range 16S rDNA PCR, denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis, sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis to uncover these ‘hidden’ pathogens and is recommended in particular when examining leukocyte esterase‐positive and culture‐negative urinary tract specimens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden pathogens uncovered: metagenomic analysis of urinary tract infections

et al. 2008

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“…Sepsis has also been reported in adults, children, and infants who received probiotic supplements. 118,[124][125][126] Land et al 126 recently reported LGG probiotic sepsis occurring in immunocompromised infants and children. A medically fragile infant 6 weeks of age became septic with a strain of LGG that was being provided as a supplement.…”

Section: Safety Of Probiotics and Prebiotics In Infants And Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cases of serious infection have occurred and been reported in the literature. 10,[118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125] Patients at risk would be those who are immunocompromised, including ill preterm neonates, and/or children who have intravenous catheters or other indwelling medical devices. In most cases, the offending organism that caused the sepsis seems to have stemmed from bacteria from the individual's own endogenous flora.…”

Section: Safety Of Probiotics and Prebiotics In Infants And Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probiotics and Prebiotics in Pediatrics

Thomas¹,

Greer²

2010

Pediatrics

357

220

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This clinical report reviews the currently known health benefits of probiotic and prebiotic products, including those added to commercially available infant formula and other food products for use in children. Probiotics are supplements or foods that contain viable microorganisms that cause alterations of the microflora of the host. Use of probiotics has been shown to be modestly effective in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in (1) treating acute viral gastroenteritis in healthy children; and (2) preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in healthy children. There is some evidence that probiotics prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants (birth weight between 1000 and 1500 g), but more studies are needed. The results of RCTs in which probiotics were used to treat childhood Helicobacter pylori gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic ulcerative colitis, and infantile colic, as well as in preventing childhood atopy, although encouraging, are preliminary and require further confirmation. Probiotics have not been proven to be beneficial in treating or preventing human cancers or in treating children with Crohn disease. There are also safety concerns with the use of probiotics in infants and children who are immunocompromised, chronically debilitated, or seriously ill with indwelling medical devices. Prebiotics are supplements or foods that contain a nondigestible food ingredient that selectively stimulates the favorable growth and/or activity of indigenous probiotic bacteria. Human milk contains substantial quantities of prebiotics. There is a paucity of RCTs examining prebiotics in children, although there may be some long-term benefit of prebiotics for the prevention of atopic eczema and common infections in healthy infants. Confirmatory well-designed clinical research studies are necessary.

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“…Lactobacillus paracasei usually does not cause human disease [17] but is known to cause disease in animal models [18] and rarely among immunocompromised patients [19]. In this particular bacterium, few cases have been reported as the cause of human infections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%