From a reader: “Bioscreen result. I have seen a few other CFS patients’ Bioscreen data. Almost always have high streptococcus. Also, X…(… on Phoenix Rising) in 2013 had similar scores to what I currently have, when he was ill. Trying to get in touch with X… as well. Once again, thank you Ken 
I gather due to your own experience multiple times with the illness; you also are an adherant of CFS being largely caused by gut bacteria/ dysbiosis? Starting to affirm this, as this is the last area of inquiry I have taken after trying to rule out all other factors. Strep overgrowth and potential D-lactate excess, in all manner of testings I’ve undergone, has of yet been the only confirmed factor.”
I’ve cited a Bioscreen result before, see this post from 2014. That report had high Streptococcus, Aerobe, and Clostridium, with low Coliforms (which include E.Coli). The results from different labs can vary greatly on what is reported. This can almost force you to become a microbiologist to make sense of the reports.
Note on above report: Only two types of streptococcus are being measured.
In this post, I will look at what can be done to reduce streptococcus without prescription antibiotics. The list is short, so I will assume that the first goal is to kill streptococcus without consideration of side effects (a.k.a. tunnel vision).
- Probiotic Streptococcus Thermophilus (in yogurt) has no clear benefit (see this post)
- Anticariogenic activity of some tropical medicinal plants against Streptococcus mutans [2004] cites G. glabra (licorice see this post), K. pandurata(chinese ginger) and P. angulata (gooseberry)
- “Triphala a tradtional herbal Ayurvedic formula” [2017] ($22 or 454gm/ 1 pound on Amazon — Organic)
- “Magnolol(magnolia bark) had significant effects on the activities of streptococcal Gtfs.” [2004]
- Essential oil of Curcuma longa inhibits Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation [2011]. aka Turmeric — note that it does not kill, just slows films.
- “Water extract of Syzygium aromaticum [Clove] …Ficus carica[Figs] and Oleo europaea leaves [Olive Leaf] .. inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes,” [2011]
- “Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 inhibited significantly more SM culture growth than most other probiotics.” [2017]
- Vitamin D deficiency in community-acquired [Streptococcus] pneumonia: low levels of 1,25(OH)2 D are associated with disease severity [2014].
Concerning antibiotics, there is a lot of antibiotic resistance reported.
- “A total of 2.4% (95CI%: 0.1-4.7%) of the [Streptococcus] pneumococcal strains were highly resistant to both phenoxymethylpenicillin and macrolides, whereas the highest resistance rates were to cefaclor (53.3%), followed by tetracycline (20%) and cefuroxime (12.1%).”[2017]
- “penicillin – 5.41%, erythromycin – 8.1%, clindamycin – 4.05%, amoxicillin-6.76%, tetracycline 28.38%.” [2017]
- “The rates of resistance and reduced sensitivity of the isolates for penicillin and ampicillin were determined at 61.2% and 55.1%, respectively. However, all isolates were found to be susceptible to vancomycin” [2016]
- “a substantial group of strains is resistant to macrolides and the majority of strains are resistant to tetracycline.” [2016]
- Note: Wikipedia states differently (likely old studies) “Most Streptococcus milleri strains are resistant to bacitracin and nitrofurazone, and sulfonamides are totally ineffective.[8] However, most strains studied have been shown to be susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline.[9]“
Rosehip and pomegranate blossom teas reduces K.pneumoniae (but do not take with antibiotics) [2017
Bottom Line
Discuss with your medical professional, starting with licorice (especially Spezzata), then I would suggest Triphala because its long history of treating digestive disorders. Magnolia Bark and Olive leaf would be the next wave of supplements to try (remember to rotate!).
Because you are high in E.Coli (atypical for CFS), then Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 would likely do double duty. Lactobacillus acidophilus inhibits most E.Coli.
D-Lactate Excess
Concerning D-lactate excess see these two post:
Last but not least… Vitamin D3
This has slow impact. You want to move yourself into the top 10% of the “normal range”. This often means 10,000 IU/day of Vitamin D3 for a younger person. More for an older person. Amount depends on degree of malabsorption.
CFS Remission 