An animal-derived lipid is disclosed that is useful as a carrying agent for anti-microbial formulations. Pharmaceutical and other preparations including Emu Oil are also described as profoundly useful components in anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral treatments. This lipid material is extracted from the Emu (Dromais Novae-Hollandiae), an indigenous bird of Australia and New Zealand. Therapeutic compositions comprising Emu Oil in combination with an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans or Pseudomonas lindbergii strain, comprising a supernatant or filtrate of said culture suitable for topical application to the skin or mucosal membranes of a mammal are utilized to inhibit the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof. Additionally, the aforementioned therapeutic composition may also include an anti-microbial, anti-mycotic, and/or anti-viral agent. Methods of treatment and therapeutic systems inhibit the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof, by topical application of therapeutic compositions comprising Emu Oil in combination with an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans or Pseudomonas lindbergii strain suitable for topical application to the skin or mucosal membranes of a mammal. Similarly, the aforementioned method may also employ a therapeutic composition additionally containing an anti-microbial, anti-mycotic, and/or anti-viral agent.