Streptococcus thermophilus bacteraemia in a patient with transient bowel ischaemia secondary to polycythaemia

Stephens, Joanna; Turner, David P.J.

Abstract

Introduction: The ability of Streptococcus thermophilus to convert lactose into lactic acid has long been utilised by the dairy industry. A seemingly low-pathogenicity organism, there have been no previously published reports linking the consumption of foodstuffs to bacteraemia with this bacterium.
Case Presentation: Here we present a case of a regular consumer of Activia yoghurt who developed S. thermophilus bacteraemia probably due to transient bowel ischaemia secondary to polycythaemia.
Conclusion: The isolation of this bacterium from blood cultures may indicate underlying large bowel pathology and should not necessarily be dismissed as contamination.

Citation

Stephens, J., & Turner, D. P. (in press). Streptococcus thermophilus bacteraemia in a patient with transient bowel ischaemia secondary to polycythaemia. JMM Case Reports, https://doi.org/10.1099/jmmcr.0.000060

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 3, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jun 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 20, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 20, 2016
• Journal: JMM Case Reports
• Electronic ISSN: 2053-3721
• Publisher: Microbiology Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1099/jmmcr.0.000060
• Keywords: bacteraemia; polycythaemia; Streptococcus thermophilus.
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/750666
• Publisher URL: http://jmmcr.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmmcr/10.1099/jmmcr.0.000060
• Contract Date: Jun 20, 2016