Enumeration of aerobic faecal flora in healthy and diseased individuals

Abstract

Studies on aerobic bacterial flora of faecal samples from healthy and diarrhoeal patients of different age groups were carried out. Giardia cysts were observed in the faecal sample of both the diarrhoeal patients. Organisms were cultivated on non-specific as well as specific enrichment media. Based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, organisms were identified to genus level. Irrespective of the age, a sharp decrease in the population of Lactobacilli, Proteus, Aeromonas, Yersinia, Micrococci and Escherichia coli with concomitant increase in the population of Klebsiella were observed in the diseased individuals when compared with the healthy ones. Significant differences were observed in the population of spore-forming Bacillus and Staphylococcus when both the diseased individuals were compared. Absence of Enterococcus and Providencia both in the child and adult diseased individuals were quite significant. Association of Candida, Pseudomonas and other aerobic spore formers only with the adult individuals confirmed some of the earlier observations. The presence of Gram-positive Diplococci and unidentified Gram-negative cocci in the healthy child were quite significant. It was therefore, evident that the alteration of resident flora was associated with the disease.