title: Effects of erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin on murine gut colonization by Candida albicans.
abstract: Male Crl:CD1(ICR) BR mice were fed either chow containing Candida albicans or regular chow. The gastrointestinal tract of the C. albicans-fed mice was permanently colonized by the yeast. Groups of C. albicans-colonized mice were subsequently treated either with a macrolide (erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin or azithromycin) for 10 days or a normal saline solution (controls). Other controls included non-colonized mice receiving the same antibiotics or a saline solution. Our data are as follows: (i) C. albicans-colonized mice treated with each macrolide had highly significant increase in colony counts of C. albicans in their stools compared to C. albicans-colonized mice treated with saline only; (ii) discontinuation of macrolide treatment showed a trend towards lower colony counts, which was not statistically significant (colony counts were sustained even after discontinuation of antibiotic treatment); (iii) dissemination of C. albicans did not occur; (iv) mice fed regular chow treated with the study drugs or saline did not have any yeasts in their stools. In conclusion, oral erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin cause a modest increase of the C. albicans concentration of the gastrointestinal tract. This increase is not associated with a higher risk of disseminated candidiasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, The University of Crete, Herkalion, Greece. georgsec@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samonis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maraki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anatoliotakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anatoliotaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Apostolakou
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Margioris
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tselentis
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kontoyiannis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015575:Roxithromycin; D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin