Clostridium difficile – Part 6
When considering whether to use a probiotic, physicians should consider the scattered reports of the development of polymicrobial invasive infections in immunocompromised patients and patients with replacement of the heart valves where Lactobacillus (a component of Lactinex) has been isolated. It should be noted that there is no established connection with these infections and exogenously administered probiotic for C diff prophylaxis.
The most worrisome of these infections is endocarditis, occurring in approximately 60% of the Lactobacillus infections. Due to the seriousness of vegetative valve lesions, some experienced infectious disease physicians believe that probiotics should not be used in transplant patients or patients with artificial valves.