Saccharmoyces boulardii is a yeast marketed as a probiotic to prevent or reduce the severity of diarrhea. The name is invalid for a number of reasons, and it is considered synonymous with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's or brewer's yeast). Systemic infection can occur following oral ingestion, even in patients who are not immunocompromised.
Conditions for which the yeast has been used as a probiotic:
(1) Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea
(2) infectious diarrheas
Risk factors for fungemia or other infections:
(1) immunocompromised status, including organ transplant recipients
(2) extensive burns
(3) critical illness
(4) virulent strain (different batches of the yeast may contain strains of different virulence, some of which may be more invasive than others)
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
