A formulation containing xylitol is used in a variety of ways to inhibit the ability of microorganisms to adhere to mucus membranes in the lungs throat, bladder, colon, ears, skin and rectum, and subsequently infect the host.In this age of antibiotic resistant bacteria, xylitol is an inexpensive alternative, which does not create problematic resistant bacterial strains for E. coli, staph, strep and C diff.