Effects of erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin on murine gut colonization by Candida albicans.
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.
Samonis
G
G
Division of Medicine, The University of Crete, Herkalion, Greece. georgsec@med.uoc.gr
Maraki
S
S
Anatoliotakis
N
N
Anatoliotaki
M
M
Apostolakou
H
H
Margioris
A N
AN
Tselentis
Y
Y
Kontoyiannis
D P
DP
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
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015575:Roxithromycin; D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin