Normal flora
Microorganism that grow in the intestinal tract and surface of the body without
producing any obviously any harmful effects are called as normal flora or endogenous
flora. Before birth neonate are sterile, during birth acquired flora from mother vagina,
food and environment and colonized at different parts of the body. In human body
there are two types of flora.
1-Transient flora
It present at the site temporary
2-Resident flora
It is permanent at site for month or years.
The type and number of flora that reside meanly depend upon on local condition such
temperature, nutrition status, oxidation reduction and potent Ph etc. These factors may
change with age, nutritional status, disease status, drug effect and pre disposes (likely
to exposure such as unsafe for HIV AIDS) and an individual to infection by usual
flora (opportunistic flora)
Distribution of normal flora:-
A-Skin
In skin normally the flora are distributed 10 4-105/cm2. Mainly anaerobic:
aerobics (10-100:1)
- Predominant anaerobic gram positive anaerobic. E.g Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Less common.
E.g- Streptococcus viridians, Propionebacterium spp.
-Density is more in below waste as they shed from the GI tract and spread from
perineum
-moist area of axial, groin, perineum harbor larger number -Particularly coli forms.
B- Conjunctiva sac
It is usually sterile, but scanty Corynebacterium xerosis and some time
Staphylococcus epidermidis may present.
C- Oral cavity
In oral cavity there are different type of flora are found in different
age
Neonate:
In neonates it comes in contact of flora during birth
Vaginal delivery: during vaginal delivery the fetus comes to contact of
lactobacillus which is normal flora of women vagina.
Caesarean section: fetus comes on the contact during feeding (Brest
feeding-gram positive cocci comes to contact
bottle feeding- gram negative bacilli
Children:
Beginning with the tooth eruption flora changes to mainly gram positive
cocci (anaerobic) found in between the tooth and gum.
Young age:
Predominantly anaerobic gingivo dental sulci forming plaque (1011/gm plaque)
Common flora-
-veridans Streptococci (anaerobic)
-anaerobic bacilli
-Treponema denticola
- Entoamoeba gingivitis
D- Nasopharyngeal
-Staphylococcus aureus
-Hemophilus parainfluenza
-Staphylococcus epidermidis
-Diphtheroids
Less common
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Hemophilus influenzae
- Morexella catarrhalis
E-GI tract
Flora started from stomach and increase along with the descending part.
: Stomach: usually sterile but some time :
: Helicobacter pylori
: Mycobacterium bovis
: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
: duodenum
103-105gm
: jejunum
105-108/gm
Ilium and ceacum
108-1010/gm
Colon contain largest number of flora mainly anaerobic around 96-99% and aerobic
1-4%
Genito urinary tract
Mainly it consist lacto bacillus mainly in sexually active age or pre menopausal
woman
-Bacteroides
-Clostridium
-Mobilincus
-Enterococcus
-diphtheroids
Role of flora
1:-beneficial
a- infection resistance
-occupies all potentially binding site for invaded organisms
-produce mucin (mucus type) that forms a mucus blanket and prevent
attachment
- Some flora on skin like Propionebacterium break lipid to fattyacids which is
cidal to pathogens.
- Some flora produce antibiotic like substances (bacteriocin) that inhibits growth of
other pathogens.
- Lactobacilli in vagina ferments glycogen and produce lactic acid that reduces the
PH of Vagina inhibiting the infection by other micro organisms.
b- Nutrition sources
Some flora synthesis vitamins for example - Escherichia coli, Bacteroides species
produce vitamin K and vitamin B)
c- Stimulation of immune system by antigen-antibody reaction.
d- Stimulation of epithelial turn over.
2:- harmful role (disease production)
a. act as opportunistic pathogens when immune of host is low (ex-antibiotic mediated)
b. Endogenous sources of infection following surgery or other condition that causes
bacteria to reach outside their habitat.
