EFFECTS OF CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND CEFTRIAXONE ON GASTROINTESTINAL COLONIZATION OF MICE BY CANDIDA-ALBICANS

Adult male Crl:CD1(1CR) mice were fed chow containing Candida albicans to induce sustained gastrointestinal colonization by the yeast. Group s of mice were rendered neutropenic with cyclophosphamide and subseque ntly received ceftriaxone, while other groups received normal saline a nd served as controls. Stool cultures were obtained immediately before and at the end of treatment. The administration of cyclophosphamide s ubstantially increased the C. albicans counts in the stools of mice. T he addition of ceftriaxone to the cyclophosphamide regimen did not sig nificantly increase the level of gastrointestinal colonization by C. a lbicans. There was no evidence of Candida dissemination to internal or gans.