[Duodenal bacterial flora in the child during post-surgical stasis]

The bacterial flora of the small bowel was studied in infants with stasis after surgery. Samples were obtained, with radiological assistance, by duodenal aspiration and then immediately analysed by the laboratory in blind tests, both qualitatively and quantitatively. There were two groups of patients: one receiving parenteral nutrition and a second on enteral elementary diet; patients without any gastro-intestinal tract disease formed the control group. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteria were isolated significantly more often in both groups of patients compared to the control group. Quantitatively, the predominant flora -- and not total flora -- was different in the three groups. When considering bacteriological species, only P. aeruginosa (greater than 10(6)/ml) differed significantly in numbers in both groups compared to the control group. With these bacteriological investigations, the "contaminated proximal small bowel syndrome" is better defined and a group of high-risk patients may be identified.