Yoghurt-induced Lactobacillus bacteremia in a patient with Crohn's disease on therapy with ustekinumab and concomitant HIV-Infection

Abstract

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are often used as adjunctive therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Although there is a lack of evidence for their benefit, the use of probiotics is encouraged by the perceived lack of adverse events. However, in rare instances, probiotics can cause systemic infections through bacteremia. We report about a patient with Crohn's disease and HIV-infection, who developed a septicemia. A Lactobacillus-bacteremia was diagnosed, the causative agents could be traced back to the consumption of self-made yoghurt. The utility of probiotics in IBDpatients with underlying immune-compromising diseases is a risk which is difficult to predict, therefore their use in these patients should be discouraged.