Abstract

Background: The balance of gut microbiota significantly impacts host health. Disruption of the natural gut flora, often caused by infections or the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs, can lead to dysbiosis, causing gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea. Probiotics show promising outcomes in restoring gut health, but concerns remain about their interaction with antimicrobials and the viability of spores in the intended gut location. To address these uncertainties, the current study was devised to evaluate how well spores-forming bacteria endure and develop in an environment where antimicrobial agents are present.

Materials and Methods: The study investigated the survival and growth of Bacillus coagulans spores under the influence of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, Ofloxacin and Ornidazole. To cultivate the spores in the presence of these antimicrobials, a mixture of MRS broth and PNY agar media was used. The number of colonies that developed were measured to assess the extent of spore survival and germination.

Results: In a simulated environment resembling human intestinal pH, Bacillus coagulans spores exhibited viability. Starting with an initial count of 1.38 billion CFU, the spores multiplied to 8.75 billion CFU at 24 hours and further reached to 86.25 billion CFU at 72 hours in the presence of Ofloxacin and Ornidazole. On the other hand, the viable count reached to the level of 88 billion CFU in the absence of antimicrobial agents.

Conclusion: This study offers evidence that Bacillus coagulans spores are able to remain viable and germinate when co-administered with Ofloxacin and Ornidazole.