title: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG suspected infection in a newborn with intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: A disseminated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 infection was suspected in a 6 day-old newborn with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) symptoms, treated empirically with antibiotics and given L. rhamnosus GG with the aim of preventing antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal complications. The level of C-reactive protein on day 5 compared with day 2 was increased in spite of negative urine and cerebrospinal fluid cultures. The blood sampled on day 6 was found to be positive for lactobacilli, and the isolate was pre-identified as L. rhamnosus or Lactobacillus casei on day 11. The strain identity was then verified as L. rhamnosus GG through PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. Genotyping with the rep-PCR and AFLP methods confirmed the 100% genetic similarity for both the strain isolated from patient blood and the probiotic product. The newborn became touch-sensitive, cried a lot, had worsening laboratory test results, and increased inflammation parameters, but no fever was observed. After a further 9 days of antibiotic therapy, blood cultures became negative, and laboratory tests improved on day 25. The patient was discharged from the hospital after 27 days. IUGR with a possible link to L. rhamnosus GG bacteraemia might be a new potential risk group, beside patients with organ failure, immunocompromised status and dysfunctional gut barrier mechanisms, for which safe use of probiotics needs careful attention. Universally accepted or improved guidelines for the safer administration of probiotics in risk groups are urgently needed. This report should not discourage the use of probiotics, but should highlight the need for their careful use in IUGR patients.
authors.affiliation: Collegium Medicum, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 13-15 Jagiellońska St., 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland Department of Neonatology, University Hospital No 2, 75 Ujejskiego St., 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sadowska-Krawczenko
authors.affiliation: Hospital Diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital No 2, 75 Ujejskiego St., 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paprzycka
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University Hospital No 2, 75 Ujejskiego St., 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska St., 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiatrzyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska St., 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krysztopa-Grzybowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska St., 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.affiliation: Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska St., 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Czajka
authors.affiliation: Department of Sera and Vaccines Evaluation, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, 24 Chocimska St., 00-791 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lutyńska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Lactobacillus rhamnosus; infection; neonatal; probiotics