Streptomyces fradiae is a soil-dwelling bacterium known for its prolific production of antibiotics, most notably neomycin. The use of S. fradiae is not in the sense of a direct therapeutic agent for humans, but rather as a source organism for the production of antibiotic compounds. Neomycin, discovered in the 1940s, has been widely used in both human and veterinary medicine for its broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The scientific validation for the use of S. fradiae is robust, with extensive studies characterizing its biosynthetic pathways and the efficacy of neomycin and related compounds against a variety of bacterial pathogens.

In the context of "alternatives to antibiotics," research has explored the manipulation of S. fradiae and its metabolic products to develop new antibiotics or antibiotic-like agents, particularly in response to rising antibiotic resistance. Additionally, genetic engineering of this species has been used to optimize and diversify its antibiotic output. However, S. fradiae itself is not administered as a treatment; rather, its metabolites are purified and used as drugs. There is substantial scientific evidence for the antibiotic properties of its products, but not for the use of the living organism or its raw extracts as a direct therapy in humans or animals.