నైరూప్య

A case of possible Bacillus clausii sepsis

Antonio Marco Miotti1*, Emma Conti2, Giuseppa Fornaro3, Giacomo Mezzapelle4, Emilio Morpurgo5, Astrid Behr6, Milvia Marchiori7, Emanuela Zilli8

Bacillus clausii is a Gram-positive bacterium whose spores are widely used as probiotics. The term “probiotics” indicates live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. While their favourable effects make them a potential option in treating various pathological conditions, in some vulnerable people such as infants, patients with diabetes, leaky gut, malignancies and post-organ transplant convalescence, probiotics can turn into opportunistic pathogens, causing sepsis, endocarditis, pneumonia and liver abscess. To our knowledge, only four cases of Bacillus clausii associated septicaemia have been reported. Hereby we describe an event of sepsis that was possibly caused by this bacterium, since it occurred – after a surgical intervention – to a diabetic adult woman who was independently taking Enterogermina® (Bacillus clausii spore oral suspension), and no other bacteria or fungi were found on blood cultures, apart from B. clausii. Thanks to a broad spectrum anti-infective therapy, the clinical response of the patient was excellent.