Bacillus subtilis

^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Introduction

found in soil and the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants and humans

probiotic
- 30 days of Bacillus subtilis eliminates 97% of Staphylococcus aureus in the gut
- affects colonizsation of Staphylococcus aureus in the nose

Bacillus species (except Bacillus anthracis) are well-known blood culture contaminants
- true Bacillus bacteremia is rare
  - typically occurs in immunocompromised patients or patients with indwelling devices^[4]
  - one of two positive blood cultures classic for contamination^[5]

↑ Wikipedia: Bacillus subtilis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_subtilis
↑ Kunst F, Ogasawara N, Moszer I et al The complete genome sequence of the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Nature. 1997 Nov 20;390(6657):249-56. <PubMed> PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9384377 <Internet> http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v390/n6657/full/390249a0.html
↑ Hein I Probiotic Proves Its Might for Staph Decolonization. Bacillus subtilis eliminated most S. aureus in the gut, and without harming microbiome. MedPage Today January 19, 2023 https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/generalinfectiousdisease/102709
Piewngam P, Khongthong S, Roekngam N Probiotic for pathogen-specific Staphylococcus aureus decolonisation in Thailand: a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Microbe. 2023 Jan 13:S2666-5247(22)00322-6. PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36646104 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(22)00322-6/fulltext
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Dargere S, Cormier H, Verdon R. Contaminants in blood cultures: importance, implications, interpretation and prevention. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2018 Sep;24(9):964-969. . PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29621616 Free article. Review. https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S1198-743X(18)30279-9/fulltext
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 20 American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2025