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Probiotic lactobacilli and bacteraemia in Stockholm
1From the Division of Clinical Bacteriology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|May 20, 2006
Summary
Lactobacilli-induced bacteraemia incidence remained low (<1%) in Stockholm from 1998-2004. Researchers did not detect common probiotic strains like Lactobacillus paracasei F19 in any samples.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Lactobacilli are commonly used probiotics, but can occasionally cause bloodstream infections (bacteraemia).
- Understanding the incidence of lactobacilli bacteraemia and the prevalence of specific probiotic strains is crucial for public health surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of lactobacilli-induced bacteraemia in Stockholm, Sweden, from January 1998 to March 2004.
- To identify if specific probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFB 1748, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, were present in bacteraemia cases.
Main Methods:
- Collected and cultured bacterial isolates from blood samples on selective lactobacilli agar.
- Determined biochemical profiles and utilized molecular methods for strain identification and comparison with known probiotic strains.
- Assessed antimicrobial susceptibility using the agar dilution method.
Main Results:
- The incidence of lactobacilli bacteraemia remained consistently low, accounting for less than 1% of all bacteraemia cases during the study period.
- None of the targeted probiotic strains (L. paracasei subsp. paracasei F19, L. acidophilus NCFB 1748, L. rhamnosus GG) were identified in any of the analyzed samples.
- Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for selected antimicrobial agents were determined for the isolated lactobacilli.
Conclusions:
- Lactobacilli-induced bacteraemia is a rare occurrence in Stockholm, with a stable incidence over the study period.
- The study did not find evidence of common probiotic strains being a significant source of lactobacilli bacteraemia in this population.
- Further research may be warranted to understand the specific characteristics of lactobacilli causing bacteraemia and their antimicrobial resistance patterns.
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