Clinical and Bacteriologic Characteristics of Six Cases of Bifidobacterium breve Bacteremia Due to Probiotic Administration in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Bifidobacterium breve is widely used as a probiotic in preterm infants and children with congenital surgical conditions, however, some cases of probiotics-induced bacteremia have been reported recently.

Objectives: To examine the clinical and bacteriologic features of Bifidobacterium breve bacteremia caused by a probiotic (BBG-01) in term and preterm infants.

Methods: We included 298 patients who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Miyagi Children's Hospital and were given BBG-01 as a probiotic within the period June 2014 to February 2019.