National University

College of Allied Health

Term 3, AY 2022-2023

Laboratory Journal No. 4

The Normal Flora

Name: HIGUIT, Jerieley Janzzen H. Section: NUR221A

Student ID No.: 2022-180055 Instructor: John Lesther B. Panggat

I. Materials Used (please attach actual photo/screenshot from the video of all materials
utilized)

Microbiology and Parasitology for Nursing

Experiment 4: The Normal Flora: Skin Swab Activity
Prepared by: Department of Nursing, 2023
 National University
College of Allied Health
Term 3, AY 2022-2023

II. Output (Before and After of the plate media)

Before:

After:

Left hand (top) Left hand (bottom)

Microbiology and Parasitology for Nursing

Experiment 4: The Normal Flora: Skin Swab Activity
Prepared by: Department of Nursing, 2023
 National University
College of Allied Health
Term 3, AY 2022-2023

II. Output (Before and After of the plate media)

Right hand (top) Right hand (bottom)

Microbiology and Parasitology for Nursing

Experiment 4: The Normal Flora: Skin Swab Activity
Prepared by: Department of Nursing, 2023
 National University
College of Allied Health
Term 3, AY 2022-2023

III. Post Lab Questions

1. What is normal flora? (4 pts)

The normal flora is a term that is used when referring to the microorganisms that constantly lives in the
body of healthy animals. They are also called commensals and indigenous microbiota.  Although they live
in the body of organisms, they do not cause diseases. In fact, all human tissues that are exposed to
external surrounding have normal flora. They have different functions which are digestion of food sources,
vitamin production, immune system stimulation, cell maturation stimulation, assistance with intestinal
transit, and resistance to colonization.

2. What is Resident Flora? Explain briefly. (3pts)

Resident flora are microbes that are always present. They consist of relatively fixed types of
microorganisms regularly found in a given area at a given age. If they disturbed, they promptly
reestablished itself. The resident flora comprises of microorganisms that can be found on the skin's
surface as well as beneath the stratum corneum's outermost cells. This includes bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, viruses, and arthropods.

3. What is Transient Flora? Explain briefly. (3pts)

Transient Flora are normal flora that lives in or on the body for a period of time (hours, days, weeks, months)
then move on or die off. They concist of non-pathogenic or potentially pathogenic microorganisms that
inhabit the skin or mucus membrane for a short period of time. They live in the external environment that are
moist and warm. These microbes are temporary because they may be washed from external areas by
bathing, they are not able to compete with resident normal flora because they may be killed by substances
produced by them, they may not survive in the acidic or alkaline ph of a body site, and lastly, they may be
flush away body secretions like tears sweat urine oil and feces.
4. Enumerate the normal flora of: (20 pts)
• Skin
Gram positive: Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, S. Aureus.

Gram negative: Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., and Acinetobacter spp.

• Mouth
Oral bacteria include streptococci, lactobacilli, staphylococci and corynebacteria, with a great
number of anaerobes, especially bacteroides.

Microbiology and Parasitology for Nursing

Experiment 4: The Normal Flora: Skin Swab Activity
Prepared by: Department of Nursing, 2023
 National University
College of Allied Health
Term 3, AY 2022-2023

• Gastrointestinal tract
Nasopharynx: Neisseria spp., Viridans Streptococcus, Moraxella, Peptostreptococcus
Stomach: Streptococcus, Peptostrepcoccus, same from nasopharynx
Small intestines: scanty, variable
Colon of adults: Bacteriodes, Fusobacterium, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, Enterobacteria, Clostriduim
Colon of breastfeeding infants: Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus
Colon of bottle fed infants: anaerobic lactobacilli, colon bacilli and aerobic and anaerobic spore bearing
organisms.
• Upper respiratory tract
Normal respiratory flora include Neisseria catarrhalis, Candida albicans, diphtheroids, alpha-hemolytic
streptococci, and some staphylococci.

Microbiology and Parasitology for Nursing

Experiment 4: The Normal Flora: Skin Swab Activity
Prepared by: Department of Nursing, 2023