Probiotics as a potential source of neonatal catheter-related sepsis

"This novel case suggests a potential infectious risk for B. subtilis in neonates with central venous access and underscores the necessity of considering probiotics as a potential source of catheter-related sepsis" Chen et al (2026).

"This novel case suggests a potential infectious risk for B. subtilis in neonates with central venous access and underscores the necessity of considering probiotics as a potential source of catheter-related sepsis" Chen et al (2026).

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Probiotics as a potential source of neonatal catheter-related sepsis

Abstract:

We report the case of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) potentially associated with probiotic administration of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis. A 32⁺⁵-week preterm infant developed systemic inflammation during oral probiotic therapy. CRBSI was definitively diagnosed via differential time to positivity between peripheral and catheter-drawn blood cultures. Microbiological analysis demonstrated that clinical isolates and the probiotic strain shared identical antimicrobial susceptibility profiles; however, this is not definitive proof of strain identity. This novel case suggests a potential infectious risk for B. subtilis in neonates with central venous access and underscores the necessity of considering probiotics as a potential source of catheter-related sepsis.

Reference:

Chen J, Liu X, Huang X, Huang M. Probiotic-associated Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis catheter-related bloodstream infection in a preterm infant: a caution for neonatal intensive care units. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2026 Jun 25. doi: 10.1007/s10096-026-05574-6. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42350857.