Bacteriological Aspects ofSelective Decontamination ofthe Digestive Tract asaMethodofInfection Prevention in Granulocytopenic Patients

andPseudomonadaceae species wasaccomplished bytheoral administration ofnalidixic acid, co-trimoxazole, orpolymyxin. Yeasts wereeliminated selectively byamphotericin Bornystatin treatment. Thedrugs usedinthis study werechosen because oftheir capacities toselectively eliminate gram-negative rodsandyeasts without affecting theanaerobic partofthegutflora whichisresponsible forcolonization resistance. Compared withthecontrol group, theselectively decontaminated patients hadsignificantly fewer (P<0.0005) gram-negative rods oryeasts orboth intheir throat swabcultures andintheir feces. Thisreduction mayexplain the clinical effectiveness ofselective decontamination.