Lactobacillus Species as a Cause of Ventilator
Lactobacillus Species as a Cause of Ventilator
Lactobacillus species are ubiquitous inhabitants of the human gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and rarely cause infections. Pneumonia caused by Lactobacillus has been reported only in immunocompromised patients and in one patient with structural lung disease. A 39-year-old, immunocompetent, critically ill woman developed ventilator-associated pneumonia, which was found to be caused by Lactobacillus. To our knowledge, this is the first such report. The infection was treated successfully with 14 days of intravenous vancomycin. Based on this case, Lactobacillus should be considered a possible cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in immunocompetent, critically ill patients.
Lactobacillus species are a large group of gram-positive facultative and anaerobic bacteria that are normal constituents of human gastrointestinal and genitourinary flora. These normally protective organisms are thought to inhibit growth of pathogenic organisms through the production of acidic metabolites. Nonetheless, Lactobacillus may become pathogenic in certain patients. Lactobacillus pneumonia has been reported in patients with acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS), pharmacologic immunosuppression, and cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Lactobacillus ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in an immunocompetent, critically ill patient. We define immunocompromised patients as those with AIDS or pharmacologic immunosuppression related to solid organ transplant or cancer chemotherapy, and immunocompetent patients as those without these conditions.
Lactobacillus species are ubiquitous inhabitants of the human gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and rarely cause infections. Pneumonia caused by Lactobacillus has been reported only in immunocompromised patients and in one patient with structural lung disease. A 39-year-old, immunocompetent, critically ill woman developed ventilator-associated pneumonia, which was found to be caused by Lactobacillus. To our knowledge, this is the first such report. The infection was treated successfully with 14 days of intravenous vancomycin. Based on this case, Lactobacillus should be considered a possible cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in immunocompetent, critically ill patients.
Lactobacillus species are a large group of gram-positive facultative and anaerobic bacteria that are normal constituents of human gastrointestinal and genitourinary flora. These normally protective organisms are thought to inhibit growth of pathogenic organisms through the production of acidic metabolites. Nonetheless, Lactobacillus may become pathogenic in certain patients. Lactobacillus pneumonia has been reported in patients with acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS), pharmacologic immunosuppression, and cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Lactobacillus ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in an immunocompetent, critically ill patient. We define immunocompromised patients as those with AIDS or pharmacologic immunosuppression related to solid organ transplant or cancer chemotherapy, and immunocompetent patients as those without these conditions.
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