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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
[Sepsis due to Lactobacillus reuteri in an extreme preterm newborn: case report]
Luz A Celis Castañeda1, William J Morales Camacho2, Nelson M Durán Ochoa3
1Unidad de Neonatología, Hospital Simón Bolívar, Universidad El Bosque (UEB), Bogotá D. C., Colombia.
Insights
Probiotics can reduce infant mortality, but carry risks. A case of fatal neonatal sepsis caused by Lactobacillus reuteri in a preterm infant highlights the need for caution with these beneficial bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Microbiology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Probiotics are widely used in neonates to reduce morbidity and mortality.
- Benefits include decreased rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, healthcare-associated infections, and neonatal sepsis.
- However, rare cases of sepsis linked to probiotic use have been reported.
Observation:
- This report details an unusual case of neonatal sepsis.
- The causative agent was identified as Lactobacillus reuteri.
- The patient was an extremely preterm newborn in a high-complexity hospital in Bogotá, Colombia.
Findings:
- Neonatal sepsis occurred despite probiotic administration.
- Lactobacillus reuteri was confirmed as the pathogen.
- The infant was extremely preterm and critically ill.
Implications:
- Extreme preterm infants are a high-risk group for adverse events from probiotics.
- Careful consideration and monitoring are crucial when administering probiotics to vulnerable neonates.
- This case underscores the importance of vigilance for rare but severe complications of probiotic therapy in neonatal intensive care units.
Abstract:
The use of probiotics in the neonatal population has contributed to a decrease in morbidity and mortality in this population through the reduction in the incidence of entities such as necrotizing enterocolitis, infections associated with health care and neonatal sepsis. Despite the multiple beneficial effects described due to the use of probiotics, this type of medication should be administered with caution in high-risk patients because reports of cases of neonatal sepsis by Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Saccharomyces boulardii and Bifidobacterium, among others, have been documented. We present an atypical case of neonatal sepsis due to Lactobacillus reuteri in an extreme preterm newborn in a highly complex institution in the city of Bogotá D. C., Colombia. The outcome in our case was fatal despite the established medical management.
