Publication details
When probiotics turn deadly: a case of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus sepsis in a burn patient
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Peer-reviewed scientific article |
| Magazine / Source | Folia Microbiologica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12223-026-01445-x |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-026-01445-x |
| Keywords | Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; Sepsis; Probiotics; Burns |
| Description | We report the first comprehensive documented case of sepsis caused by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus infection, likely resulting from high-dose probiotic supplementation. This sepsis occured in a 36-year-old woman with deep partial- and full-thickness burns covering 25% of total body surface area. The use of probiotics in patients with organ dysfunction and in immunocompromised individuals is on the rise. The immune system and intestinal barriers are often compromised in patients with burns, which may facilitate the translocation of probiotic bacteria into bloodstream and lead to bacteremia; however, isolation of lactobacilli in blood cultures is often disregarded and considered an artefact caused by contamination. This case highlights that probiotic-associated L. rhamnosus sepsis, although rare, can occur in these patients and excessive probiotic use should therefore be avoided in these individuals. |
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