PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS ON THE YEAST FLORA OF THE HUMAN GUT

The effects of four antibiotics on the yeast nora of the human gut were evaluated. Forty adult cancer patients who received therapy with amoxicillin-clavulanate, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethioprim or ampicillin were studied prospectively. Quantitative stool cultures for yeasts were performed immediately before, at the end of and one week after the end of the antibiotic treatment. Amoxicillin-clavulanate caused a higher and more persistent increase in gastrointestinal colonization by yeasts compared to ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim or ampicillin. The present results are similar to those obtained in a mouse model of gastrointestinal colonization by Candida albicans when the same antibiotics were used.