Most of the living matter of the Earth is represented by microbes. At the moment, this fact is established for sure. A person cannot be completely isolated from them, and they got the opportunity to live in him or on him without causing harm.
About microbes
On the surface of the human body, on the inner shells of its hollow organs, a whole crowd of microorganisms of various stripes and species is placed. Among them, optional (they may or may not be present) and obligate (each person must have) can be distinguished. What is opportunistic microflora?
The evolution process influenced the relationship of the organism with the microbes located in it and led to a dynamic equilibrium controlled by the human immune system and some competition between different types of microbes, which is considered the norm.
However, this community of microbes contains those that can cause any disease in conditions that are often independent of them. This is a conditionally pathogenic microflora. These microorganisms are quite a large number, for example, they include some types of clostridia, staphylococci and Escherichia.
A person and the bacteria living in his body have a rather diverse relationship. Most of the microbiocenosis (microflora) is represented by microorganisms coexisting with humans in symbiosis. In other words, we can say that relations with him benefit them (UV protection, nutrients, constant humidity and temperature, etc.). At the same time, bacteria also benefit the wearer's body in the form of rivalry with pathogenic microorganisms and their survival from the territory of their existence, in the form of protein breakdown and vitamin synthesis. At the same time as beneficial bacteria in humans, cohabitants are present that do not cause particular harm in small quantities, but become pathogenic under certain circumstances. These are opportunistic microorganisms.
Definition
Conditionally pathogenic are called microorganisms, which are a large group of fungi, bacteria, protozoa and viruses that live with a person in symbiosis, but which cause various pathological processes under certain conditions. The list of the most common and famous includes representatives of the genera: aspergillus, proteus, candida, enterobacter, pseudomonas, streptococcus, escherichia and many others.
What else is interesting for opportunistic microflora?
Scientists cannot identify a clear boundary between opportunistic, pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes, since in most cases their pathogenicity determines the state of the organism. Thus, we can say that the microflora, which was revealed during the study in an absolutely healthy person, can cause another disease with a subsequent fatal outcome.
The manifestation of pathogenic properties in opportunistic microorganisms can only occur during a sharp decrease in the body's resistance. A healthy person constantly has these microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, on the skin and mucous membranes, but they do not cause him to develop pathological changes and inflammatory reactions.
Conditionally pathogenic microflora for the time being is not dangerous for humans. But there are nuances.
Therefore, opportunistic microbes are called opportunists, because they take every opportunity for intensive reproduction.
When should you be afraid of such an infection?
However, we can talk about the occurrence of problems in the case when, for some reason, immunity is greatly reduced, and this was found during the examination. Conditionally pathogenic microflora is then really dangerous for health.
This is possible in some situations: with a severe respiratory viral infection, acquired or congenital immunodeficiency (including HIV infection), with diseases that reduce immunity (diseases of the cardiovascular system and blood, diabetes, malignant tumors and others), taking medications that inhibit the immune system (chemotherapy for cancer, corticosteroids, cytostatics and others), with hypothermia, severe stress, extreme physical exertion or other extreme environmental influences the second medium, during lactation or pregnancy. Each such factor individually and in the aggregate of several of them is especially capable of causing a sufficiently serious infection to cause opportunistic bacteria to develop and become a threat to human health. When is microflora inoculation required ?
Staphylococcus aureus
The following situations are often encountered in doctoral practice: when a positive test for staphylococcus aureus is obtained for a smear from a nose, throat, breast milk or skin surface, an absolutely healthy person may be too excited and require a specialist to conduct therapy, including antibiotics. This concern can be easily explained, but it is often groundless, since almost half of the people in the whole world have Staphylococcus aureus and do not even suspect it. This microorganism is an inhabitant of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and skin. This is characteristic of a category such as opportunistic microorganisms.
He is also the owner of phenomenal resistance to various environmental factors : the effects of many antibiotics, antiseptic treatment, cooling and boiling. This reason affects the fact that it is almost impossible to get rid of. All household appliances, surfaces in the house, toys and furniture are seeded by him. And only the ability of the skin's immunity to weaken the activity of this microorganism saves most people from death due to infectious complications. Otherwise, the growth of opportunistic microflora, and in particular staphylococcus, would not be stopped.
It can be concluded that the only factor that Staphylococcus aureus cannot cope with is human immunity. Falling into the high-risk category occurs when the protection of a person is weakened. In this case, it can cause serious diseases, such as pneumonia, meningitis, as well as infectious lesions of soft tissues and skin (phlegmon, abscess, panaritium and others), cystitis, pyelonephritis and others. The only possible treatment for staphylococcus is the use of antibiotics, to which this microorganism is sensitive. What is the conditionally pathogenic intestinal microflora?
E. coli
E. coli is considered a natural inhabitant in the lower part of the digestive tract in every person. Without it, the intestines could not fully function, since it is very important for the digestion process. In particular, this microorganism promotes the production of vitamin K, which is involved in the blood clotting process, and prevents the development of pathogenic strains of intestinal bacteria causing very serious diseases that are too active.
E. coli is not able to exist for a long time outside the body of the carrier, since the most comfortable conditions for it are on the surface of the intestinal mucosa. But this very useful and harmless bacterium can also serve as a source of a real threat when it enters the abdominal cavity or lumen of other organs. This becomes possible when the intestinal flora is introduced into the urinary tract, vagina or peritonitis (the appearance of an opening that serves as an outlet for the contents of the intestine). Such a mechanism leads to the occurrence of prostatitis, vulvovaginitis, cystitis, urethritis and other diseases. Regular sowing on microflora is necessary.
Green streptococcus
Verdant streptococcus also refers to opportunistic bacteria, as it is found in most people. His favorite location is the oral cavity, or rather the mucous membrane that covers the gums, and tooth enamel. Including this microbe is found in smears from the nose and pharynx. The peculiarities of green streptococcus include the fact that in saliva, with a high glucose content, it is able to destroy tooth enamel, causing pulpitis or caries. A smear for opportunistic microflora is carried out by a doctor.
Prevention
We can say that moderate consumption of sweets and simple oral hygiene after eating are the best prevention of these diseases. In addition, sometimes vermin streptococcus causes the manifestation of other ailments: tonsillitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis. The most serious diseases that vermin streptococcus can cause are meningitis, pneumonia, endocarditis and pyelonephritis. However, they develop only in a very small category of people who can be attributed to the high-risk group.
And if the bacterial sowing is normal, and the conditionally pathogenic microflora is not found? This situation happens quite often. This means a variant of the norm.
Treatment
The only correct treatment for Escherichia coli, green streptococcus and staphylococcus is the use of antibiotics. But it must be accompanied by certain indications, to which carriage does not apply, if it is asymptomatic.