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What is Lactobacillus bacteremia?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 23, 2026

Lactobacillus species is a known commensal colonizer of the mouth, gastrointestinal and occasionally, the female genitourinary tract.[1] However, its significance as a pathogen is overlooked frequently. Moreover, most patients who have Lactobacillus bacteremia are immunosuppressed.[2,3]

How do you get Lactobacillus infection?

The most common predisposing events for Lactobacillus infections are dental manipulation, poor dental hygiene, intravenous drug abuse, abdominal surgery, colonoscopy, probiotic use, and heavy dairy product consumption [49].

How is Lactobacillus bacteremia treated?

Combination therapy with penicillin and an aminoglycoside has usually been recommended for treatment of bacteremic Lactobacillus infections [9, 27].

What does Lactobacillus bacteria cause?

Weakened immune system: Lactobacillus has caused blood infections in a small number of people with weakened immune systems. This includes people with HIV/AIDS or cancer, or people who are taking medications to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ.

Is Lactobacillus in blood contaminant?

Although lactobacilli are usually considered contaminants in blood cultures, they have been identified in some clinical reports as causal agents of dental caries, infectious endocarditis, urinary tract infections, chorioamnionitis, endometritis, meningitis, intra-abdominal, liver or spleen abscesses, and bacteraemia [2 ...

28 related questions found

What bacteria causes bacteremia?

Causes

  • Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA.
  • Escherichia coli (E. coli)
  • Pneumococcal bacteria.
  • Group A Streptococcus.
  • Salmonella species.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Is Lactobacillus a pathogen?

Lactobacilli species are considered non-pathogenic organisms and have been used as probiotics to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea. There are sporadic reported cases of infections related to lactobacilli containing probiotics.

What happens if you have too much Lactobacillus?

Cytolytic vaginosis has been diagnosed when there is an overgrowth of the lactobacilli. It has been suggested that they can irritate the cells that make up the vaginal lining, causing them to break up. The damaged or fragmented cells are then shed with the normal vaginal secretions.

Where is Lactobacillus found in the body?

Acidophilus (Lactobacillus acidophilus), a bacterium found in the mouth, intestine and vagina, is used as a probiotic. Probiotics are good bacteria that are either the same as or very similar to the bacteria that are already in your body.

Does vagina produce Lactobacillus?

Lactobacilli, sine qua non of Vaginal Homeostasis. Vaginal lactic acid is predominantly of bacterial origin (26). Under the influence of estrogen, the vaginal epithelium produces < 15% of L-lactic acid (26), while lactobacilli are the major source of both L- and D-lactic acid (27).

What does Lactobacillus do for the vagina?

Lactobacilli are the most abundant vaginal bacteria in women. They inhibit binding of other bacteria to epithelial cells and produce lactic acid that kills or inhibits the growth of many other bacteria.

What antibiotics treat Lactobacillus in urine?

Currently, there is no gold standard for susceptibility testing of Lactobacillus isolates and no guidelines for interpreting test results [10]. Erythromycin, penicillin, clindamycin, aminoglycosides, and imipenem are considered antibiotics of choice and combination therapy has been noted in most studies [1, 5, 10].

What is Lactobacillus endocarditis?

Endocarditis due to Lactobacillus is associated with impaired immunity, structural heart disease, recent surgery, prolonged antibiotic therapy, and severe comorbid conditions. 2. Some clinical reports show a 30% mortality rate associated with endocarditis caused by lactobacilli.

Is Lactobacillus a virus?

Lactobacilli are probiotics that, among other health-promoting effects, have been ascribed immunostimulating and virus-preventive properties. Certain Lactobacillus spp. have been shown to possess strong interleukin-12 (IL-12) -inducing properties.

Is Lactobacillus an antibiotic?

Despite their safety status, many lactobacilli have been reported as being antibiotic resistant (12, 14, 15), where a vancomycin-resistant phenotype is perhaps the best-characterized intrinsic resistance mechanism (16).

What disease is caused by lactobacilli in the oral cavity?

Only a handful of Lactobacillus species is found in caries lesions, but they are largely absent in caries-free children. Lactobacilli present in caries lesions represent both a major contributor to caries progression and a major reservoir to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Can you be allergic to Lactobacillus?

If you develop a skin rash, hives, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing, or any allergic reaction to this supplement, call your doctor as soon as possible.

How can I increase lactobacilli in my vagina?

Yogurt that contains live cultures is the best source of lactobacilli.” Haar also adds that reducing your sugar intake may also be a good way to reduce growth of harmful bacteria in the vagina. She recommends a diet rich in probiotics, as well as lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

How can I get Lactobacillus naturally?

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic bacteria. Research suggests that consuming probiotics can be good for digestion and general health.
...
It also occurs naturally in a range of fermented foods and pickles, including:

  1. kombucha.
  2. some cottage cheese.
  3. kefir.
  4. sauerkraut.
  5. miso.
  6. tempeh.

How do you get rid of Lactobacillus overgrowth?

The goal of treatment is to increase the vaginal pH and restore lactobacilli numbers back to normal. This is accomplished by using baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) treatments. Avoiding possible triggers may also be helpful.

What are the symptoms of cytolytic vaginosis?

Excessive or increased vaginal discharge, most often white and watery or cottage-cheese-like in consistency and appearance (similar to a yeast infection) Discomfort during penetrative sex. Itching of the vagina and/or vulva. Bladder pain/burning while peeing.

What causes an overgrowth of Lactobacillus?

No one is sure about exactly what causes an overgrowth of Lactobacillus, but certain conditions and lifestyle factors can increase your risk [5]. These include: Antibiotic use or use of antifungal treatments: Both are major disruptors of the delicate balance of vaginal microflora.

Is Lactobacillus helpful or harmful?

Generally, lactobacilli are very good for gut health. They produce lactic acid, which may prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing the intestines.

What are the signs of bacteremia?

Symptoms and Signs of Bacteremia

Development of symptoms such as tachypnea, shaking chills, persistent fever, altered sensorium, hypotension, and gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) suggests sepsis or septic shock.

Is bacteremia a serious condition?

Bacteremia is a very serious condition and should be treated as quickly as possible once diagnosed. In a nutshell, bacteremia can typically be prevented by not ignoring minor infections such as skin infection or a urinary tract infection.