EFFECT OF CEFAMANDOLE, CEFUROXIME AND CEFOXITIN ON YEAST FECAL FLORA OF SURGICAL PATIENTS

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cefamandole, ce furoxime and cefoxitin on the level of gastrointestinal (GI) colonizat ion by Candida albicans in humans. Twenty-eight adult patients receive d one of these three cephalosporins for 10 days, as treatment of infec tion, and were studied prospectively. Quantitative stool cultures for yeasts were performed immediately before, at the end, and 1 week after discontinuation of treatment. All three antibiotics caused an increas e of the yeast concentration in the fecal flora. The increase caused b y cefoxitin was the highest (2.5 log(10) CFU/g of stool). Our results suggest that the cephalosporins tested cause minor increases of the co lonization of the GI tract by C. albicans.