The influence of antibiotics on the growth of Candida albicans in the vagina: an experiment with vaginal fluid.
The growth of Candida albicans in fluid aspirated from the vagina of 18 women was studied. The growth of C. albicans in the aspirated vaginal fluid to which antibiotics were added proved to be enhanced in 16 out of 18 samples. The growth of C. albicans in Sabouraud medium proved not to be enhanced by the addition of antibiotics. Dilution of the Sabouraud broth and the reduction of the amount of added antibiotics did not change the outcome. It is concluded that enhancement of the growth of C. albicans in the vagina is not due to a direct growth-promoting effect of the antibiotics on the yeast. It is concluded that most probably the growth-promoting effect of antibiotics is obtained by way of an eradication of the bacterial flora harboured in the vagina.
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000502:physiology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D013307:Streptomycin