NORMAL FLORA

A R M I N I S Y A M S I D I
 Normal Flora (normal microbiota) are :
• They includes bacteria, some fungi
• Viruses and parasites not normal microbial flora (most
investigators consider that they are not commensals and do not
aid the host
• They are the population of microorganisms routinely found
growing on the body of healthy individuals. They can be either :
WHAT IS NORMAL  Resident microbiota/resident colonization
FLORA?  Transient microbiota/resident colonization
• Under normal condition in a healthy human, they are harmless
and may even be beneficcial
• Also called Commensals i.e organisms that dine together or
Microflora
 It is the term used to describe
Normal flora vary in both
the various microorganisms that
number and kind form one site
are permanent resident of
to another
certain body sites

It denotes the population of

NORMAL
Time : shortly after birth until
death
microorganisms that inhabit the
skin and mucus membrane of
healthy normal person
BACTERIAL
FLORA
The normal flora extensively
populate many areas of the
body, the internal organs such
as CNS, blood, liver, speel,
kidney and bladder are free of
all but the occasional transient
organism
RESIDENT VS TRANSIENT FLORA

Transient flora are non-pathogenic or

The resident flora consists of relatively
fixed types of may regulary found in a
given area at a given age; if distrubed, it
promptly reestablished itself
potentially pathogenic may that inhabit
the skin and mucus membrane for
short period of time like hours, days
and weeks. It is derived from the
enviroment does not produce disease
and does not establish itself
permanently on the surface

Disease : the defense mechanisms of the body is breached or

when the may is placed in the abnormal body site
 Imunostimulation
Produce antibodies which may contribute to host defences

Maybe source of opportunistic infection

ROLE OF Protection from external invaders

Occupy bodys epithelial surface, they are able to prevent other bacteria by blocking receptors, Competing for essential nutrient

NORMAL Producing anti-bacteria subtances

FLORA Nutrion
Produced some of the normal intestinal flora (E. coli and bacteroids produce vitamin K in the
gut

Production of carcinogens, may modify, through their enzymes, some chemicals in our diets
into carcinogens

Stimulate development of certain tissue

COMPETITIVE
PROTECTIVE
NORMAL FLORA
More bacterial than human
cells in the body
Influences the anatomy,
physiology, susceptibility to
pathogens and morbidity of
the host
• Provide some nutrients
(vitamin K)
• Stimulate immune systme,
immunity can be cross-
reactive against certain
pathogens
• Prevent colonization by
potensial pathogens
(antibiotic-associated colitis,
Clostridium difficile)
FACTORS INFLUENCING NORMAL
FLORA

01 02 03 04 05 06
Local Diet Age Health Antibiotics Route of
enviroment (pH, condition delivery
temperature, (immunity
nutrient level activity
ORIGIN OF
NORMAL FLORA
• A human first becomes colonized by a
normal flora at the moment of birth and
passage through the birth canal. In utero,
the fetus is sterile, but when the
mother’s and the birth process begins, so
does colonization of the body surfaces.
Handling and feeding of the infant after
birth leads to establishment of a stable
normal flora on the skin, oral cavity and
intestinal tract in about 48 hours
A NEW BORN
CHILD’S FLORA
DEPENDENT ON
MOTHER
• The composition of
a child’s bacterial
flora is dependent
on the mother’s
microflora, since she
is the primary
source for the
child’s bacteria at
the outset
D E N SI T Y O F N O R M A L
F LO R A I N H U M A N

• It has been calculated that a

human adults houses about 102
bacteria on the skin, 1010 in the
mouth, and 1014 in the GI. The
latter number is far in excess of
the number of eukaryotic cells
in all the tissue and organs
which comprise a human.
IDENTIFY
NORMAL
FLORA
NORMAL
FLORA OF
THE SKIN
 Low pH
FACTORS
ELIMINATING Lysozyme
NONRESIDENT
MAU FROM
SKIN
Fatty acid in
sebaceous secretions
 • Skin has a slightly acidic pH (4-6) due to orgaic acids
produces by staphylococci and secretions from skin oil and
sweet glands. The acidic pH discourages colonization of
IMPORTANT many bacteria
FACTORS TO • Lack of moisture drives many resident microbiota into a
dormant state. However in certain parts of the body (scalp,
KEEP SKIN ears, and axillary areas) moisture is sufficiently high to
support a resident microbiota
MICROBIOTA • Sweat of some parts of the skin contains a high
UNDER concentration of salt (sodium chloride). His make the skin
surface hyperosmotic which stresses most microorganisms
CONTROL • Lysozyme from sweat glands on the skin are bacterial
inhibitory substances. They help control of colonization,
overgrowth and infection from resident microorganisms.
 • Neither profuse sweating nor washing and bathing can eliminate or
HOW SKIN significantly modify the normal resident flora
MICROBIOTA KEEP • The number of superficial microorganisms may be diminished by daily
scrubbing with soap containing hexachlorophene or other disinfectants,
THEIR POPULATION but the flora is rapidly replenished again
 NORMAL FLORA OF THE ORAL CAVITY
• Contains bacteria able to resist mechanical removal by adhering to surface like the
gum and teeth. Those that can not attach are removed by the mechanical flushing
from the oral cavity to the stomatch where they are destroyed by hidrochloric
acid
NORMAL FLORA OF RESPIRATORY
TRACT
• The upper respiratory tract is heavily colonized by normal flora.
• The loower tespiratory tract, (trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli) do not have a normal
microbiota (it is sterile) as they removed by : The continuous stream of mucus generated by
the cliliates epithelial cell, phagocytic action of alveolar macrophages, and lysozyme, which is
present in nasal mucus has bactericidal effect
 • Lactobacillus sp. predominate because formula lacks the required growth
factor
IN FORMULA-FED • With the ingesttion of solid food, these initial colonizers of the colon are
INFANTS eventually displaced by a typical G-ve microbiota
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF
STOMATCH MICROBIAL FLORA
• Some bacteria may survive if they rapidly pass through the stomach flora or if those ingested
with food are particularly resistant to gastric pH
• Normally the of mau increase after a meal but quickly falls as the acidic pH takes its role
• Changes in the gastric micrbiota also occur if there is an increase in gastric pH allowing
intestinal obstruction, which permits a reflux of alkaline duodenal secretions into the stomach
NORMAL FLORA OF GENITAL TRACT

• For anatomical reasons the female genital tract is much more heavily colonized than that of the
male and has a complex microbiota that constantly changes with maturation. The major m.o are
acid-tolerant bactobacilli, primrily Lactobacillus acidophilus.
• Vulva : Staphylococcus epidermidis, diphtherois, coliforms
• Vagina, soon after birth : aerobic lactobacilli appear and persist as long as pH acid for several weeks,
when pH become neutral (until puberty, mixed flora of cocci and bacilli. At puberty : aerobic and
anaerobic lactobacilli (maintenance of acidic pH by production of acid from carbohydrates, glycogen,
preventing the establisment of harmful m.o in the vagina.
• If lactobacilli supressed (by drugs), increase No. of other bacteria and yeast cause irritation and
inflammation
• After menopause : Lactobacilli again increase with a mixed flora : peptostreptococci, clostridia,
prevotella, gardnerella vaginalis, ureaplasma urealyticum, sometimes lesteria or E. Coli or coliform