Final answer:
It is true that women taking high doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics may develop symptoms of a thrush (Candida) infection due to disruption of the body's normal microbiota.
Step-by-step explanation:
Women taking high doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics may develop symptoms of a thrush (Candida) infection. This statement is True. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have the ability to disrupt the body's normal microbiota, including killing off beneficial bacteria that usually keep the population of other microorganisms, such as Candida albicans, in check. Without these protective bacteria, Candida can overgrow, leading to symptoms like vaginal itching, burning, and discharge, which are characteristic of a yeast infection. These yeast infections are a type of superinfection, which occurs when the protective microbiota is diminished. Pregnant women, those with immunosuppression, and individuals with illness such as diabetes may be more susceptible to these infections due to shifts in normal microbiota balance. Yeast infections are typically treated with antifungal medications, not antibiotics, since antibiotics can actually lead to the overgrowth of yeast like Candida.