Lactobacillus masticator abscess after probiotics consumption

Popular probiotics contain Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. Lactobacillus is a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium that colonizes human oropharyngeal, gastrointestinal, and female urogenital tracts. Although lactobacilli are generally nonpathogenic, they have been implicated in uncommon cases of infection and have the potential to cause bacteremia, endocarditis, endometritis, pulmonary abscesses, and orogastrointestinal abscesses, especially in the immunocompromised. We report a case of Lactobacillus infection in a diabetic patient that occurred 2 weeks after wisdom tooth extraction. The only bacterium found was Lactobacillus, possibly related to her diet of yogurt and smoothies after the tooth extraction.