Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections

Bifidobacterium are considered a probiotic and commensal in the human gut, understood as nonpathogenic, however, there is at least one case report​1​ of this bacteria being a possible cause of a urinary tract infection. Bifidobacterium may be implicated as a pathogen in some circumstances.

What we know about bifidobacterium

  • Anaerobic commensal of human intestine
  • Part of healthy flora of the mouth and vagina
  • Generally considered non-pathogenic
  • Advocated as a probiotic
  • Used to reduce diarrhoea
  • May have caused sepsis and necrotising pancreatitis and urinary tract infections
  • Over 30 species known
  • Helps in normal bowel function
  • Protects against gut infections
  • Decreases gut inflammation
  • Decreases symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
  • Implicated in case reports of necrotising pancreatitis, sepsis, epidural abscess, pulmonary infection and dental caries
  • Other infections may have gone misdiagnosed due to commensal status
  • Very slow to grow
  • Difficult to identify, best to use rRNA gene sequencing
  • May be misdiagnosed as Actinomyces spp.
  • If isolated in large quantities from a specimen, should be considered causative agent of infection
  • Bifidobacteria UTIs are rare, but have been identified
  • Probiotics containing Bifidobacteria should be used carefully

References

1. Crociani F, Biavati B, Alessandrini A, et al. . Bifidobacterium inopinatum sp. nov. and Bifidobacterium denticolens sp. nov., two new species isolated from human dental caries. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1996;46:564–71 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

2. Mahlen SD, Clarridge JE III. Site and clinical significance of Alloscardovia omnicolens and Bifidobacterium species isolated in the clinical laboratory. J Clin Microbiol 2009;47:3289–93 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

3. Hemarajata P, Versalovic J. Effects of probiotics on gut microbiota: mechanisms of intestinal immunomodulation and neuromodulation. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2013;6:39–51 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

4. Hütt P, Shchepetova J, Lõivukene K, et al. . Antagonistic activity of probiotic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria against entero- and uropathogens. J Appl Microbiol 2006;100:1324–32 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

5. Tejero-Sariñena S, Barlow J, Costabile A, et al. . Antipathogenic activity of probiotics against Salmonella Typhimurium and Clostridium difficile in anaerobic batch culture systems: is it due to synergies in probiotic mixtures or the specificity of single strains? Anaerobe 2013;24:60–5 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

6. Rodes L, Khan A, Paul A, et al. . Effect of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium on gut-derived lipopolysaccharides and inflammatory cytokines: an in vitro study using a human colonic microbiota model. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2013;23:518–26 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

7. Sarowska J, Choroszy-Król I, Regulska-Ilow B, et al. . The therapeutic effect of probiotic bacteria on gastrointestinal diseases. Adv Clin Exp Med 2013;22:759–66 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

8. Verna EC, Lucak S. Use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders: what to recommend? Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2010;3:307–19 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

9. Verma R, Dhamija R, Ross SC, et al. . Symbiotic bacteria induced necrotizing pancreatitis. JOP 2010;11:474–6 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]10. Ha GY, Yang CH, Kim H, et al. . Case of sepsis caused by Bifidobacterium longum. J Clin Microbiol 1999;37:1227–8 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

11. Cryan B, Azadian BS, Dunwoody GW, et al. . Epidural abscess due to Streptococcus milleri and Bifidobacterium species. J Infect 1991;23:214–15 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

12. Green SL Case report: fatal anaerobic pulmonary infection due to Bifidobacterium eriksonii. Postgrad Med 1978;63:187–8, 190, 192 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

13. Barberis CM, Cittadini RM, Almuzara MN, et al. . Recurrent urinary infection with Bifidobacterium scardovii. J Clin Microbiol 2012;50:1086–8 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

14. Borriello SP, Hammes WP, Holzapfel W, et al. . Safety of probiotics that contain lactobacilli or bifidobacteria. Clin Infect Dis 2003;36:775–80 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

15. Ohishi A, Takahashi S, Ito Y, et al. . Bifidobacterium septicemia associated with postoperative probiotic therapy in a neonate with omphalocele. J Pediatr 2010;156:679–81 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

16. Jenke A, Ruf EM, Hoppe T, et al. . Bifidobacterium septicaemia in an extremely low-birthweight infant under probiotic therapy. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2012;97:F217–18 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

  1. 1.
    Pathak P, Trilligan C, Rapose A. Bifidobacterium–friend or foe? A case of urinary tract infection with Bifidobacterium species. Case Reports. Published online September 24, 2014:bcr2014205122-bcr2014205122. doi:10.1136/bcr-2014-205122
Condition typeBacteria
Affected systems
Sexually Transmissible
Genitourinary Incidence
Age group affected

Microbial information

Anaerobe / AerobeAnaerobe
Gram stainGram-positive
Best tests to detect
Pathogen of
  • Urinary tract
  • Blood
Commensal of
(Can naturally inhabit, but not necessarily as a healthy addition)
  • Mouth
  • Gut
  • Vagina
Optimal growth pH
Conditions correlated with
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Cellular adherence capacities
Found in healthy vaginasPossibly
Biofilm-forming capacities
Cellular Morphology
  • Bacillus (rod-shaped)
Microbe MotilityMotile
Colony Colour
Substances Produced
Sexually Transmissible

What are the symptoms of Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections?

What causes Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections?

  • No causes found for Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections, yet.

What are the risk factors associated with Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections?

  • No risk factors for Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections, yet.

How do you diagnose Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections?

  • No diagnoses found for Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections, yet.

How do you treat Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections?

Treatments for Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections are only for practitioners and people who purchased the book Killing BV and Killing BV for men.

Which treatments are likely to be ineffective for Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections?

What complications are associated with Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections?

  • No complications found for Bifidobacterium spp. vulvovaginal infections, yet.

References

This entry was posted in .
SHARE YOUR CART