Normal Viral and Bacterial Flora of the Human Small and Large Intestine

Abstract

IN recent years there has been an ever increasing interest in the human enteric flora in normal and pathologic states.1 2 3 4 Current reports have focused on germ-free animals,5 6 7 the effect of suppressing the enteric flora with antibiotics,8 9 10 the relation of intestinal bacteria and leukocytes,6 , 11 the effect of malnutrition on the ecology of the gut12 and the growing recognition of the genus bacteroides as being an important inhabitant of the normal adult colon.5 , 13 Renewed interest in bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel and its association with hematologic syndromes, malabsorptive states and morphologic mucosal changes is again evident.9 , 10 , 14 , 15 Quantitative bacterial change occurring in . . .