Yeast Infections, Allergies Encouraged by Antibiotic Use

University of Michigan researchers, working on mice, have found that taking antibiotics that destroy intestinal bacteria can allow Candida yeast infections to flourish. The loss of important gut bacteria also stimulates the development of allergies and asthma.

Immunologist Gary Huffnagle and colleagues are the first to demonstrate in mice that the disruption of beneficial intestinal bacteria by antibiotics allows yeast to take hold and flourish. Huffnagle plans to evaluate over-the-counter probiotics -- concentrated supplements of beneficial bacteria -- to identify which, if any, work best for replenishing gut flora.

Many women develop yeast infections at some point, and there's been some evidence that eating yogurt (which contain probiotic bacteria) can help. May Ryan has developed a natural treatment that she says cured her of the nasty Candida infection.