PREVENTIVE TREATMENT TO COMPLEMENT INFECTION CONTROL FOR CANDIDEMIA: IDENTIFICATION OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS THAT EFFECTIVELY INHIBIT THE GROWTH OF Saccharomyces AND B. megaterium WHILE PROLIFERATING E. coli

Abstract

Fungal infections have a crude mortality rate of 40% among immunocompromised patients, who are very susceptible due to drug resistant yeast strains and delayed diagnosis. In fact, in the United States alone, annual therapeutic treatments cost $2.8 billion. This study aims to develop preventive treatments to complement established infection control for fungal infections. The hypothesis was that the combination of probiotics with cinnamon would be the most effective treatment. Various combinations and concentrations of over-the-counter supplements were evaluated in their ability to inhibit yeast and detrimental bacterial growth while proliferating beneficial bacteria. Saccharomyces, E. coli, and B. megaterium were grown in petri dishes to represent detrimental yeast, beneficial bacteria, and detrimental intestinal bacteria respectively. By measuring the zone of inhibition, this study shows that probiotics recreate an oxygenated, nonacidic, and beneficial bacterial habitat without interfering with the antifungal. The combination of oil of oregano (Origanum syriacum var. bevanii) with acidophilus was the most effective treatment, not supporting the hypothesis. Overall, taking oil of oregano and acidophilus with the antibiotic regimen may reduce the risk of developing fungal infections. Further research into understanding the underlying mechanism of these results and evaluating the clinical implications of this combination is recommended.