Presence of antibiotic resistant probiotics in health supplements

Probiotics are known for their health-promoting benefits and are widely used in food and health products. However, they serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistant genes and risks clinical complications if transferred to pathogenic strains. Antibiotic resistant probiotic strains have been reported from various food and biological sources but the antibiogram of the corresponding probiotics from health supplements have remained largely unknown. Here, we report resistance towards tetracycline, erythromycin and kanamycin antibiotics from probiotic isolates of health supplements and discuss the implications of this finding.