In the modern world, being healthy is not only a necessity, it is fashionable and stylish, it means being in a trend. That is why an increasing number of citizens are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, instill appropriate habits for their children and regularly monitor the state of their body, undergoing a variety of examinations. This article will examine the concept of "pathogenic enterobacteria" and what it is.
The ancient inhabitants of the planet
Bacteria appeared on our planet more than three and a half billion years ago. They survived two ice ages in the history of the planet and continue to evolve successfully today. The classification includes more than a million species of bacteria that live almost everywhere. They are divided into many different groups, but the most interesting enterobacteria for us. What it is, it’s easy to explain - these are our neighbors who share our body and food with us.
Enterobacter family
Representatives of the huge family Enterobakteriaceae live both in the external environment and in the body of animals and humans. In the context of this article, we consider the genus enterobacter (pathogenic enterobacteria and opportunistic), including 15 species of bacteria. These living creatures are facultative anaerobes (they can do without oxygen) and are considered colimorphic (the lower gastrointestinal tract of all warm-blooded animals and humans serves as an environment for enterobacteria).
Features of the structure and life
In appearance, these are sticks with flagella, which serve to move the bacteria. These proteobacteria do not form spores and multiply by simple division. In soil and water, they are able to remain viable for many months. They die from disinfectants within a few minutes, and at high temperatures within an hour. Conditionally pathogenic enterobacteria are the natural inhabitants of the intestines of animals. They play an important role in formate fermentation of food. But among them there are pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic for humans representatives. All of them are gram-negative enterobacteria. What it is will be described later.
Differential staining method
We are all far from medicine, but a little clarifying knowledge does not hurt. Back in 1884 in Berlin, a subject of the Danish kingdom, bacteriologist Hans Christian Joachim Gram, proposed a method for differential staining of enterobacteria in a smear. And today the whole world of microbiology uses this method, based on the ability of organisms to stain or not to stain with special substances in certain environments. This means that gram-negative enterobacteria do not stain with crystal violet when stained according to Gram, in contrast to gram-positive.
When does the norm become pathology?
As already noted above, the majority of representatives of this family are part of the normal microflora of various parts of the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals and humans. For example, in the small intestine of a healthy person, from 0 to 103 CFU / ml of enterobacteria is determined, and in the ileum their number is many times greater - from 10 2 to 10 6 CFU / ml.
The conditions for the transition to pathogenicity and provocation of diseases is a change in the quantitative composition of microflora with a predominance of an increase in the number of specific enterobacteria against the background of a decrease in immunity and barrier functions of tissues.
Enterobacteria pathogenicity factors
What is it, it will become clear after listing those toxins or poisons that directly affect the development of the disease, namely:
- Endotoxins are poisons that are released after the destruction of the bacteria themselves.
- Cytotoxins are substances that bacteria secrete during their life, they destroy the membranes of other cells (antibodies).
- Exotoxins are substances that are released during the metabolic processes of living bacteria.
Enterobacteriaceae diseases
Conditionally pathogenic enterobacteria are part of the normal microflora of the human gastrointestinal tract, but the slightest shift in environmental factors or a decrease in the protective properties of the mucous membranes, decreased immunity or the death of normal microflora when taking antibiotics can cause infections not only of the stomach and intestines, but also other organs. Bacteria can infect the following systems of human organs:
- excretory system (cystitis and pyelonephritis);
- urinary tract (urethritis, cystitis);
- reproductive system (vaginitis, triimiosis);
- respiratory system (pneumonia);
- digestive system (if bacteriosis caused by the propagation of opportunistic bacteria).
The various degrees and forms of all these diseases are caused by the aggressiveness of bacterial toxins. The more aggressive the toxins are, the more severe the disease is.
Conditionally pathogenic E. coli
As an example of conditional pathogenicity, turning into the actual pathogenicity, we consider the vital activity of Escherichia coli, that is, Escherichia coli. Normally, it is present in the gastrointestinal tract and performs a secretory function, helps in the formation of colicins and immunoglobulins, which are necessary to inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms. E. coli is involved in the synthesis of vitamin K, responsible for blood coagulation. But with the development of pathogenic strains, E. coli infects the mucous membranes of the stomach, penetrates the blood, gall bladder, urinary tract, skin and even the lungs.
The conditions for the transition to pathogenicity can be excessive bacterial reproduction against the background of a decrease in immunity, which often happens in medical institutions with insufficient sanitary control. This is how opportunistic Escherichia coli can become a dangerous pathogen.
Lactose-negative enterobacteria
This group especially affects digestion in children. This is a group of opportunistic organisms that cause burping, pressure and heartburn in newborns and young children. Acceptable presence in the smear is up to 10 6 CFU / ml. The intestinal microflora of the newborn is still being formed, and the use of probiotic preparations containing live lactobacilli and bifidobacteria during this period significantly contributes to the normal digestion and displacement of precisely such organisms as lactose-negative enterobacteria from the microflora.
Disease treatment
In order to confirm or, conversely, refute the diagnosis of enterobacterial infection, doctors often rely on the patient’s medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests. Antibiotics are used to treat enterobacteria. Their choice depends on the location of the infection and the results of the tests. The correct diagnosis and selection of drugs can only be done by a qualified specialist. Do not experiment with your body, it is better to take tests and get timely and adequate medical care.
Enterobacterial disease prevention
The most important thing is to observe the rules of personal hygiene. You must also monitor the cleanliness of natural products and wash them thoroughly. It is important to avoid contact with infected patients and not to get to the place of infection. Maintaining immunity and caring for the normal microflora of your gastrointestinal tract will help maintain vitality and normal life.
If you are still ill, it is very important to consolidate the composition of normal microflora, to support the work of the pancreas and liver, as well as the intestines. The variety of products and preparations with live and beneficial lactobacilli and bifidobacteria allows everyone to do this.