Selective decontamination of alimentary tract microbial flora in patients treated with bone marrow transplantation. A microbiological study.

14 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation were studied regarding the oral and faecal microflora. Seven patients were given a multidrug regimen, directed against aerobic gram-negative rods and fungi, for local decontamination of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. Seven other patients served as controls. The decontamination regimen was found to decrease the numbers of fungi in the oral cavity and to protect from new colonization. In the gastrointestinal tract aerobic gram-negative rods were eliminated in all patients and new colonization with acquired microorganisms was not observed even when the indigenous anaerobic flora had been disturbed by parenteral antibiotics. In the control group aerobic gram-negative rods and fungi were isolated from all patients during the observation period.