Abstract
Bacteremia caused by Lactobacillus is rare, data on its clinical significance are based only on case reports and a limited number of studies, often difficult to interpret.
Lactobacillus species is a commensal colonizer of the mouth, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract. Its significance as a pathogen is overlooked frequently. The diagnosis of these infections requires a mutual relationship between the physician and the microbiologist to rule out contamination risk.
Most patients with Lactobacillus bacteremia are immunosuppressed or patients at increased risk of symptomatic bacteremia with comorbidities, treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and have indwelling venous catheters.
Risk factors related to Lactobacillus bacteremia include impaired host defenses and severe underlying diseases, as well as prior surgery and prolonged antibiotic therapy ineffective for lactobacilli.
We describe an unusual case of a woman, on chronic hemodialysis treatment, with a sepsis due to Lactobacillus casei and review the literature.
Keywords: Lactobacillus, bacteremia, hemodialysis, immunocompromised patients