Normal Flora of Human Body

The Indigenous Microflora

 Normal Flora of Human Body
• Resident flora – fixed • Advantages • Disadvantages
types and are regularly • Inhibition of
found in a given area of pathogenic
organisms
the body at a given age
• Transient flora – inhabit • Synthesis of vit.
B12 and K
the skin and mucous
• Synthesis of
membrane temporarily substances that
for hours, days or weeks
inhibit growth of
and are derived from pathogenic
the environment organisms
• Production of disease
if individual becomes
immunocompromised
or there is a change
of usual anatomic
location
• Production of disease
since most of them
are pathogens or
opportunistic
pathogens
 Skin

• Factors that eliminate non – resident flora from the

skin
1. Lysozyme
2. Acidic pH of the skin due to sweat
3. Free fatty acids in sebaceous secretions
4. Constant sloughing off of the skin
 Skin

• Skin of the axilla, perineum and toe webs is

characterized by having higher moisture levels,
higher body temperature and higher levels of surface
lipids. These regions have more microorganisms
compared to the other regions of the skin and are
predominantly inhabited by Gram negative bacilli
 Mouth

• Tongue and buccal mucosa are inhabited mostly by

Streptococcus viridans group, which includes S.
mutans, S. milleri, S. salivarius and S. sanguis.
• It is similar with pharynx and trachea, some pathogenic
organisms transiently located at the pharynx are
Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Neisseria meningitidis, and Mycoplasma
 Respiratory Tract

• Lower respiratory tract is usually sterile and

organisms that reach this region are usually
destroyed by the defense mechanisms of the body
such as the alveolar macrophages.
 Digestive Tract

• Esophagus – contains transient mouth flora

• Stomach – minimal bacteria due to acidity, some
bacteria that resist acidity includes Helicobacter
pylori, most common cause of duodenal ulcer. It
produces UREASE that alkalinizes gastric acid.
 Digestive Tract

• Small and large intestine – scanty flora may be seen in

small intestine due to constant peristaltic movement
mostly include streptococci, lactobacilli, and bacteroides.
• The large intestine predominantly ANAEROBES (95 –
99%) includes Bacteroides fragilis, clostridium,
Lactobacillus bifidum, Eubacterium. Facultative aerobes
are Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae.
 Important Roles of Intestinal Flora

1. Synthesis of Vitamin B complex and Vitamin K

2. Conversion of bile into bile acid
3. Competition with transient flora for nutrients
4. Prevention of colonization of the intestines by
transient flora
5. Production of potentially pathogenic end – products
of metabolism that are toxic to transient flora
 Genitourinary Tract

• The urinary tract is sterile above the distal 1cm of the

urethra.
• Anterior Urethra – S. epidermidis, Enterococci, and
Diphtheroids
• Penile Urethra – Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides and
Alpha streptococci may be found
• Female Urethra – either sterile or contains Staphylococcus
epidermidis
 Genitourinary Tract

• Vaginal flora varies depending on the age, hormonal

levels and vaginal pH of the host.
– In female infants ---predominant is Lactobacillus sp. Lactobacillus plays a crucial
role in preventing gonococcal infection by producing lactic acid that adds to the acidity
of the vagina.
– From 1 month of age until puberty ---staph. Epidermidis, strep, diphteroids and E.coli
– At puberty ---- Lactobacillus acidophilus, corneybacterium, peprostreptococci, strep,
Bacteroides and staph
– Fungi such as Torulopsis and Candida may also be found (10 to 30%)