Probiotics: Should All Patients Take Them?
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Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Marta Katkowska1, Katarzyna Garbacz1, Aida Kusiak2
1Department of Oral Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-204 Gdańsk, Poland.
Abstract:
The usefulness of probiotics in the treatment as well as prevention of many infections and disorders has been confirmed by previous clinical studies. They can protect not only against gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea or enteritis but they have proven efficacy against pneumonia, urogenital infection, depression/anxiety, cancer metastasis, obesity, and others. However, it should be mentioned that not all clinical trials have shown improvement of health in patients undergoing probiotic treatment, and very rarely have even reported that probiotic strains may be the causative agents of opportunistic infections. Studies have documented cases of sepsis/bacteremia, endocarditis, liver abscess, pneumonia, and fungemia caused by probiotic strains, mainly in high-risk groups. This review summarizes the cases of infections caused by probiotic strains and the potential hazard associated with the supplementation of probiotics in seriously ill and hospitalized patients.
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