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

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

doi:10.1055/s-0035-1566312

Cited by 106Probiotics and Fermented FoodsNeonatal and Maternal InfectionsInfant Nutrition and Health

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

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Coviello C, Caterina, Corsini I, Iuri, Arena, Fabio, Antonelli, Alberto, Rossolini, Gian, Dani, Carlo·2015·American Journal of Perinatology Reports

DOI 10.1055/s-0035-1566312PMC PMC4737628

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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.

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Our review of the literature (from 1980 to 2023) found 23 cases where the blood isolate from a bacteremic patient was identical to the probiotic strain the patient had been taking.
“Our review of the literature (from 1980 to 2023) found 23 cases where the blood isolate from a bacteremic patient was identical to the probiotic strain the patient had been taking.”
From Lactobacillus Bacteremia and Probiotics: A Review (2023) · cites this paper as [11]
The Characterization of the Lactobacillus Isolates section (page unavailable) reports that blood isolates from two patients had PFGE profiles identical to the probiotic strain. The cited paper does not support the claimed total of 23 cases or a literature review extending through 2023. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
The source of these infections has sometimes been attributed to the use of Lactobacillus-containing probiotics.
“The source of these infections has sometimes been attributed to the use of Lactobacillus-containing probiotics [9,10,11].”
From Lactobacillus Bacteremia and Probiotics: A Review (2023) · cites this paper as [11]

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[22]Zbinden A Zbinden R Berger C Arlettaz R Case series of Bifidobacterium longum bacteremia in three preterm infants on probiotic therapy Neonatology 2015 107 1 56 59 25402825

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Authors: Coviello C, C., Corsini I, I., Arena, F., Antonelli, A., Rossolini, G., & Dani, C.
Affiliations: Division of Neonatology, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy
University of Siena (IT)
University of Florence (IT)
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (IT)
Corresponding author: Dani, Carlo
ORCID: Arena, Fabio
Antonelli, Alberto
Rossolini, Gian
Dani, Carlo
Venue: American Journal of Perinatology Reports
Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Published: 2015-10-28
Volume: 06
Issue: 01
Pages: e25-e29
ISSN: 2157-6998 (ISSN-L)
2157-7005
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1566312
PMC: PMC4737628
OpenAlex: W2288212279
Cited by: 106
References: 32
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 7
FWCI: 10.24
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
Locations: American Journal of Perinatology Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Florence Research (University of Florence) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Florence Research (University of Florence) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics: Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Neonatal and Maternal Infections
Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
Keywords: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, probiotic safety, neonates, neonatal sepsis, probiotic supplementation, antibiotic adverse effects, necrotizing enterocolitis, preterm infants

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

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