A neonate with meningitis caused by probiotic-related Clostridium butyricum.

OBJECTIVES

Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), a normal gut bacterium in humans, is commonly used as a probiotic. We described a 26-day-old premature neonate who was diagnosed with probiotic-related C. butyricum meningitis.

DESIGN

Upon the admission, suppurative meningitis was considered based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biochemical test and neuroimaging examination, and C. butyricum was subsequently identified by CSF metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Given the history of administrating living C. butyricum products before admission, probiotics-associated suppurative meningitis was considered a high possibility, leading to the confirmation of anti-infection treatment including vancomycin and meropenem.

RESULTS

Following this therapy, the infant's CSF profiles demonstrated improvement. Additionally, further phylogenetic analysis confirmed the high homologous of C. butyricum from CSF with probiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of C. butyricum infection in neonates, highlighting the importance for prudence in administrating probiotics for neonates, particularly in high-risk groups such as preterm infants, those with central venous catheters and intestinal diseases.