Lactobacillus Endocarditis

Lactobacillus Endocarditis Complicated by Presumed Vertebral Osteomyelitis and Embolic Stroke

“…Although uncommon, serious infections including bacteremias and endocarditis due to this organism have been reported. 1,[3][4][5][6][7] Lactobacillus endocarditis was first described in 1938 and is estimated to represent 0.05% to 0.4% of all infective endocarditis (IE) cases. 8 There have been many attempts to determine predisposing risk factors.…”

“…Associated risk factors found in these cases included invasive procedures, prosthetic valves, heart transplantation, malignancy, structural heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and dental disease. 1,[3][4][5][6][7] Probiotic use has also been theorized to be a risk factor as clinical isolates recovered are indistinguishable from probiotic strains. 9 Although probiotic use has been suggested as a risk factor for Lactobacillus infections in some studies, a causal association remains controversial.…”

“…Lactobacillus species are facultative anaerobic gram-positive bacilli species that are part of the normal gastrointestinal and genitourinary flora and only rarely cause serious infections. Although uncommon, serious infections including bacteremias and endocarditis due to this organism have been reported 1,3–7 . Lactobacillus endocarditis was first described in 1938 and is estimated to represent 0.05% to 0.4% of all infective endocarditis (IE) cases 8 .…”

“…There have been many attempts to determine predisposing risk factors. Associated risk factors found in these cases included invasive procedures, prosthetic valves, heart transplantation, malignancy, structural heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and dental disease 1,3–7 . Probiotic use has also been theorized to be a risk factor as clinical isolates recovered are indistinguishable from probiotic strains 9 .…”