The Fecal Microflora of 1–3-Month-Old Infants during Treatment with Eight Oral Antibiotics

Abstract

We examined the fecal microflora of 1–3-month-old infants during treatment with phenoxymethylpenicillin, amoxycillin, pivampicillin, cefaclor, cefadroxil, loracarbef, erythromycin or cotrimoxazole. Escherichia coli increased during treatment with penicillins or cephalosporins, but was not affected by erythromycin or cotrimoxazole. Other enterobacteria were acquired or increased during treatment with all agents except cotrimoxazole. Enterococci persisted or increased during phenoxymethylpenicillin, cephalosporin or cotrimoxazole treatment, whereas erythromycin and the other penicillins suppresed them. Bacteroides, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were suppressed to undetectable levels in most infants during treatment with all agents, except phenoxymethylpenicillin and loracarbef.