In any healthy person, the gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by microorganisms. They do not just live there, but fulfill their significant roles, helping each other. Normal intestinal microflora promotes the utilization of cholesterol, the production of vitamins such as B 12 and K. With the participation of healthy microflora, our immunity is raised, which prevents the pathogenic microflora from multiplying in the intestine. The latter leads to many troubles; various diseases develop in the body that can bring the patient to an extremely serious condition.
What does pathogenic microflora mean?
A healthy person should not have more than 1% of the total microbiota of representatives of pathogenic microflora. The growth and development of pathogenic representatives is suppressed by our assistants - beneficial microorganisms that live in the digestive tract.
Pathogenic microbes that enter the body with unwashed foods, with insufficiently thermally processed food, and simply through dirty hands, do not immediately trigger diseases. They can calmly wait until a weakening of immunity sets in. In this case, they immediately actively multiply, kill beneficial microbes, cause various pathologies in the body, including dysbiosis.
In normal microflora, there are four main microorganisms: bacteroids, bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli and lactic acid bacteria. Normally, pathogenic microflora should be absent. A healthy body is able to fight against pathogens and prevent them from entering its home.
Varieties of pathogenic microflora
Pathogens are divided into two significant groups:
UPF (opportunistic microflora). Includes streptococci, Escherichia coli, staphylococci, peptococci, yeresen, protea, Klebsiella, Aspergillus and Candida fungi. They can be constantly present in the body, but manifest themselves with a decrease in resistance.
PF (pathogenic microflora). It is represented by salmonella, cholera vibrio, clostridia, some strains of staphylococcus. These representatives do not live in the intestines, mucous membranes and tissues on an ongoing basis. Once inside the body, they begin to multiply rapidly. At the same time, beneficial microflora is forced out, pathological processes develop.
UPF representatives
The largest group of UPF are streptococci and staphylococci. They are able to penetrate the body through microcracks in the mucosa and skin. They cause tonsillitis, stomatitis, purulent inflammation in the mouth, nasopharynx, pneumonia. Spreading with blood flow through the body, bacteria can lead to the development of rheumatism, meningitis, damage to the heart muscle, urinary tract, and kidneys.
Klebsiel causes severe damage to the intestines, genitourinary and respiratory systems. In severe cases, the meninges are destroyed, meningitis and even sepsis develop, which leads to death. Klebsiella produces a very powerful toxin that can destroy beneficial microflora. Treatment is very problematic, since this microorganism does not perceive modern antibiotics. Premature babies often suffer, as they do not yet have their own microflora. Highly fatal risks from pneumonia, pyelonephritis, meningitis, sepsis.
Candida mushrooms are the culprits of thrush. Also affect the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, genitourinary system, intestines.
Aspergillus molds colonize the lungs and do not show any symptoms for a long time. To detect the presence of certain representatives in the body helps sowing on pathogenic microflora, which is being studied in laboratories.
PF representatives
The main causative agents of intestinal infections are pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, as well as Salmonella. Pathogenic microflora cause intoxication of the body, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, lesions of the gastrointestinal mucosa.
The bacterium Clostridium causes tetanus, gas gangrene and botulism, which affects the soft tissues and nervous system.
When C. difficile enters the body, the gastrointestinal tract is affected, pseudamembranous colitis begins. C. perfringens type A provokes the development of necrotic enteritis and foodborne toxicoinfections.
Such a terrible disease, like cholera, is caused by the Vibrio cholerae cholera vibrio. This microorganism multiplies rapidly, there is watery diarrhea, severe vomiting, rapid dehydration can lead to death.
To identify these microorganisms, it is necessary to analyze for pathogenic microflora. He will help to quickly establish a diagnosis and begin timely intervention.
Microflora in newborns
Pathogenic microflora of a person is formed gradually. In a newborn, the gastrointestinal tract is not inhabited by flora, which is why it is so susceptible to infections. Often babies suffer from colic, dysbiosis. This occurs in cases where the amount in the intestine of UPF is exceeded and their own beneficial microbes cannot cope with them. Treatment should be carried out in a timely manner, correctly: lactobacillus and bifidobacteria are infused into the baby’s digestive tract with the help of drugs. So you can avoid the effects of dysbiosis, the multiplication of pathological forms.
Normally, when breastfeeding, beneficial microorganisms enter the baby’s body with mother’s milk, settle in the intestines, multiply there and carry their protective functions.
Reasons for the development of PF
Pathogenic intestinal microflora becomes the cause of many diseases. Doctors highlight the main reasons for which dysbiosis develops:
Unbalanced diet. The use of a large number of proteins, simple carbohydrates leads to the spread of putrefactive phenomena and flatulence. This also includes excessive consumption of preservatives, dyes, pesticides, nitrates.
Long-term use of antibiotics.
Chemotherapy, exposure to radioactive waves, antiviral drugs, long-term hormone therapy.
Inflammatory processes in the intestine that change pH, leading to the death of beneficial bacteria.
The presence of parasites that secrete toxins. This reduces immunity.
Chronic and viral infections in which the production of antibodies is reduced (hepatitis, herpes, HIV).
Oncology, diabetes mellitus, pancreatic and liver lesions.
Surgery, severe stress, fatigue.
Frequent enemas, bowel cleansing.
The use of spoiled foods, non-hygiene.
The risk group includes newborns, the elderly, as well as adults with gastrointestinal problems.
Signs of Dysbiosis
Doctors distinguish four stages of the development of dysbiosis. Symptoms on each of them are slightly different. The first two stages are usually not clinically apparent. Only attentive patients can notice a slight weakness of the body, rumbling in the intestines, fatigue, heaviness in the stomach. At the third stage, the following symptoms are noted:
Diarrhea - manifests itself as a result of increased intestinal motility. The functions of water absorption are disrupted. In older people, on the contrary, constipation may occur.
Bloating, increased gas formation, fermentation processes. Pain around the navel or in the lower abdomen.
Intoxication (nausea, vomiting, weakness, fever).
In the fourth stage of dysbiosis due to metabolic disorders, there is:
pallor of the skin, mucous membranes;
dry skin
gingivitis, stomatitis, inflammation in the oral cavity.
To identify the causes of the disease, the doctor, when diagnosing, will recommend passing the feces to the pathogenic microflora. The analysis will provide a complete picture of the disease.
Drug therapy
If a disease is identified, the fault of which is pathogenic microflora, complex treatment is prescribed. To begin with, the doctor establishes the causes and stage of the disease, then prescribes drug therapy and gives recommendations on nutrition. The following drug groups are used:
Probiotics Suppress the growth of pathogenic flora, contain bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
Prebiotics. Stimulate the reproduction of microorganisms useful for the intestine.
Symbiotics Combine both the one and the other function.
Enzyme preparations.
Sorbents. Means that allow you to bind, and then remove from the body the products of decay, decay, toxins.
If the fourth stage of dysbiosis is established, then antibiotics are prescribed. In each case, this or that drug is prescribed.
Proper nutrition
It is necessary to highlight products that contribute to the development of pathogenic flora in the intestine. These include the following:
Confectionery, flour products.
Sweet foods high in sugar.
Fermentation.
Smoked meats.
Whole milk.
Legumes
Alcoholic drinks, as well as carbonated.
Fried food.
Anyone who is thinking about how to recover from dysbiosis should abandon these products. In your diet you need to include:
Starch-free vegetables.
Greens.
Porridge made from oatmeal, buckwheat, wheat, brown rice.
Dairy products.
Meat of chicken, quail, turkey, rabbit, veal.
It should be noted that fruits such as bananas, apples, cause fermentation. If there are problems with the intestines, their use should be limited. Clarification: baked apples have a positive effect on the intestines. They like a sponge absorb toxins, stop diarrhea, provide the intestines with fiber.