A warning has been issued by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) regarding an outbreak of Alkalihalobacillus clausii (A. clausii) bacteraemia linked to the use of the Enterogermina probiotic in private hospitals in Gauteng and North West.
The NICD says that 11 cases have been identified in eight hospitals in the two provinces since January this year.
The outbreak was flagged on 11 June by a pathologist from a private laboratory, prompting an in-depth investigation, reports TimesLIVE.
“Most of the patients had reported using Enterogermina probiotics before the bacteraemia onset. Isolates from four cases and two open packets of the probiotic used by the patients were sent to the NICD for whole genome sequencing,” the NICD said.
According to the agency, the investigation determined Enterogermina probiotic as the likely source for A. clausii bacteraemia.
A. clausii is a non-pathogenic spore-forming Gram-positive bacillus, which has demonstrated probiotic properties and significant therapeutic potential. It is commonly prescribed to manage gut dysbiosis and diarrhoea, including antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, by suppressing pathogenic bacteria and promoting anti-inflammatory responses.
This species has been used in oral bacteriotherapy products such as Enterogermina. It is safe for most populations, including children and immunocompromised individuals, though caution is needed in severely immunocompromised patients.
The NICD said it shared a detailed report with the reporting laboratory recommending that all pharmacists at hospitals with A. clausii bacteraemia cases notify the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority for further investigation.
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