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 wer e evaluated. Forty adult cancer patients who received therapy with amo xicillin-clavulanate, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethioprim or ampicillin were studied prospectively. Quantitative stool cultures fo r yeasts were performed immediately before, at the end of and one week after the end of the antibiotic treatment. Amoxicillin-clavulanate ca used a higher and more persistent increase in gastrointestinal coloniz ation by yeasts compared to ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethopr im or ampicillin. The present results are similar to those obtained in a mouse model of gastrointestinal colonization by Candida albicans wh en the same antibiotics were used.