[Early bacterial colonisation of the intestine: why it matters?]

The birth process allows the progressive formation of complex intestinal microflora composed of myriad bacteria, leading to this recently identified host-bacterial mutualism in the human intestine. This kind of cross-talk originating from birth is opportunistically used by the young host to initiate its own immune system. Recent epidemiogical data support the hypothesis that some increasing immune deviances observed in the last 2 decades could have originated from a modification of the bacterial environment in young populations. Our modern approach to perinatal care may, to some extent, have modified inadequately the overall quality of this bacterial-host interface. The international medical community has to be made aware of the increasing importance that initial colonising intestinal microflora could have on the health and well-being of the host later in life. It is of great concern to decrease these possible negative influences and to discover in the near future the possible means of helping to manipulate positively the gut microbiotia of infants.