I did explain in a later post that Yeast infections were the primary reason to take probiotics. But once you have C. difficile and later colitis, any antibiotic can change your focus on antibiotic use. My experience is that probiotics stop colitis flares. Even I am allowed to make a mistake, I am a human after all.
We're all allowed to make mistakes here. Some more than others.
Colitis and probiotics------ One PubMed article has this to say:
"Therapies such as prebiotics and probiotics aim to selectively manipulate the intestinal microbiota and have been evaluated as an attractive therapeutic option with few side effects."
Modulating the microbiota in inflammatory bowe... [Proc Nutr Soc. 2014] - PubMed - NCBI
Yep, C diff will change anyone's focus.
I took antibiotics for a LONG time (more than 10 years) along with probiotics and never had a yeast infection of any kind. But other Lymies did say they did get yeast infections while taking probiotics. I never followed them so I don't know any details.
Yeast infection = candidiasis
So there's a big difference between oral or vaginal thrush and systemic candidiasis. I had vaginal and oral candidiasis several times back in the years WAY before I ever took ANY antibiotic, ever. (I thought they were they were the Devil's Spawn.)
"Candidiasis encompasses infections that range from superficial, such as oral thrush and vaginitis, to systemic and potentially life-threatening diseases. Candida infections of the latter category are also referred to as candidemia or invasive candidiasis, and are usually confined to severely immunocompromised persons, such as cancer, transplant, and AIDS patients, as well as nontrauma emergency surgery patients.[4]"
Candidiasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Back on the topic------ taking probiotics, in my opinion, is a very good idea even if a person isn't taking antibiotics and especially as one ages. Unless a person takes too many it can do no harm and it's inexpensive.
We (as Lymies) were always told to buy the refrigerated kind. But I think there are now some shelf stable brands ---- I haven't researched that so I don't know.
A good yogurt with live bacteria is good also. Or Kefir with live cultures.