Probiotics are relatively safe and beneficial

The benefits of probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium seem to outweigh any potential danger of sepsis say Hammerman and colleagues in their review of randomised trials, Cochrane controlled trials, and case reports (10.1136/bmj.39010.630799.BE). While anecdotes of Lactobacillus sepsis exist, retrospective reviews suggest no greater risk of systemic infection from these bacteria than from endogenous commensals. Prospective studies have reported that probiotic therapy is clinically useful and safe in immunocompromised adults and premature infants, although safety is relative not absolute.