Safety of probiotics that contain lactobacilli or bifidobacteria.

Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are extremely rare causes of infection in humans, as are probiotics based on these organisms. This lack of pathogenicity extends across all age groups and to immunocompromised individuals. Strains used for new probiotics should be chosen from the commensal flora of humans and should not carry intrinsic resistance to antibiotics that would prevent treatment of a rare probiotic infection. Vigilance regarding the detection of possible rare cases of infection due to probiotics should be maintained, and isolates should be sent to reference centers for molecular characterization and confirmation.

[1]  Maija Saxelin,et al.  Lactobacillus bacteremia during a rapid increase in probiotic use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in Finland. , 2002, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[2]  A. Pfeifer,et al.  Probiotics and immune response , 2002, Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology.

[3]  J. Björkroth,et al.  Taxonomy and important features of probiotic microorganisms in food and nutrition. , 2001, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[4]  S. Guandalini,et al.  Treatment of acute diarrhea in the new millennium. , 2000, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[5]  H. Szajewska,et al.  Lactobacillus GG administered in oral rehydration solution to children with acute diarrhea: a multicenter European trial. , 1998, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[6]  J. Jacquemin,et al.  Possible Role of Catheters in Saccharomyces boulardii Fungemia , 2000, European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

[7]  C. Shortt.  The probiotic century: historical and current perspectives , 1999 .

[8]  S. Salminen,et al.  Safety evaluation of probiotics , 1999 .

[9]  H. Kauma,et al.  Liver abscess due to a Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain indistinguishable from L. rhamnosus strain GG. , 1999, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[10]  C. Kibbler,et al.  Lactobacillus endocarditis caused by a probiotic organism. , 1999, Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

[11]  P. Reinert,et al.  THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION WITH MILK FERMENTED BY LACTOBACILLUS CASEI (STRAIN DN‐114 001) ON ACUTE DIARRHOEA IN CHILDREN ATTENDING DAY CARE CENTRES , 1999, International journal of clinical practice.

[12]  K. Garleb,et al.  Safety and tolerance of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation to a population infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. , 1998, Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association.

[13]  W. D. de Vos,et al.  Demonstration of safety of probiotics -- a review. , 1998, International journal of food microbiology.

[14]  L. Rossetti,et al.  Molecular identification and cluster analysis of homofermentative thermophilic lactobacilli isolated from dairy products. , 1998, Research in microbiology.

[15]  J. Vanderhoof,et al.  Use of probiotics in childhood gastrointestinal disorders. , 1998, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - JPGN.

[16]  J. Vanderhoof,et al.  Treatment strategies for small bowel bacterial overgrowth in short bowel syndrome. , 1998, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[17]  P. Varmanen,et al.  Vancomycin resistance factor of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in relation to enterococcal vancomycin resistance (van) genes. , 1998, International journal of food microbiology.

[18]  J. Washington,et al.  Lactobacillus bacteremia and endocarditis: review of 45 cases. , 1997, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[19]  M. Hilty,et al.  Biotherapeutic effects of probiotic bacteria on candidiasis in immunodeficient mice , 1997, Infection and immunity.

[20]  E. Balish,et al.  Colonization of congenitally immunodeficient mice with probiotic bacteria , 1997, Infection and immunity.

[21]  A. Naber,et al.  Role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of short bowel syndrome-associated D-lactic acidemia. , 1997, Microbial pathogenesis.

[22]  Mark W. LeChevallier,et al.  A conceptual framework to assess the risks of human disease following exposure to pathogens. ILSI Risk Science Institute Pathogen Risk Assessment Working Group. , 1996, Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis.

[23]  C. Stratton,et al.  Lactobacillus bacteremia: description of the clinical course in adult patients without endocarditis. , 1996, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[24]  D. Parke.  Role of Gut Bacteria in Human Toxicology and Pharmacology , 1996 .

[25]  H. Rautelin,et al.  Lactobacilli and bacteremia in southern Finland, 1989-1992. , 1996, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[26]  S. Opal,et al.  Antibiotic-Induced D-Lactic Acidosis , 1995, Annals of Internal Medicine.

[27]  M. Hill,et al.  Role of gut bacteria in human toxicology and pharmacology. , 1995 .

[28]  W. Hammes,et al.  The potential of lactic acid bacteria for the production of safe and wholesome food , 1994, Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung.

[29]  F. Cockerill,et al.  Lactobacillemia in liver transplant patients. , 1994, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[30]  F. Gasser,et al.  Safety of lactic acid bacteria and their occurrence in human clinical infections , 1994 .

[31]  K. Holmes,et al.  Bacteriology of the vagina. , 1984, Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology. Supplementum.

[32]  Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development , 1964, International Organization.