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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sepsis Following Probiotic Therapy in an Infant

Sanchari Chakravarty1, Archana Parashar2, Saugata Acharyya2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The Calcutta Medical Research Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. sanchari.chakravarty@gmail.com.

Indian Pediatrics
|November 16, 2019
PubMed

Insights

A probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii, can cause dangerous fungemia (yeast infection in the blood) in infants with combined immunodeficiency. This case underscores the risks of probiotics in vulnerable, sick children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Combined immunodeficiency (CID) is a group of rare genetic disorders that affect the immune system.
  • Probiotics are live microorganisms intended to provide health benefits when consumed, but their safety in immunocompromised individuals is not fully established.

Observation:

  • A 3.5-month-old infant with undiagnosed CID developed Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia.
  • The infant had recently been treated with a probiotic preparation containing Saccharomyces boulardii.

Findings:

  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia occurred in an infant with underlying combined immunodeficiency.
  • The fungemia was temporally associated with the administration of a Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic.

Implications:

  • The use of probiotics, including Saccharomyces boulardii, may pose significant risks in infants with undiagnosed immunodeficiencies.
  • Healthcare providers should exercise caution when prescribing probiotics to sick or vulnerable pediatric patients.
  • This case highlights the critical need for careful patient selection and monitoring when using probiotic therapies.

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