[The characterization of the intestinal microflora in patients with extrahospital pneumonia]

One hundred and sixty patients, including 130 patients with extrahospital pneumonia (EHP), were examined. The control group consisted of 30 practically healthy subjects. All the EHP patients (86 males and 44 females aged 18 to 70 years) underwent complex clinicolaboratory examination. The results of ECG and chest radiography were taken into consideration in addition to complaints, disease history, and objective parameters to characterize the degree of EHP and the phase of the process. The qualitative and quantitative compositions of the intestinal microflora were studied according to recommendations of USSR Public Health Ministry (1987) using Russian nutrient media and reagents. The degree of dysbacteriosis was determined according to the classification by I. B. Kuvayeva et al. (1991), supported by other researchers. Some qualitative and quantitative changes in the obligatory and facultative intestinal microflora were found in 42.3% of EHP patients. Intestinal dysbacteriosis was revealed in 8.3% of patients with mild EHP, in 34.8% of patients with moderate EHP, 52.8% of patients with severe EHP, 86.1% of patients with protracted EHP, and 64.5% of patients with complicated EHP. Thus, EHP in most patients was accompanied by more or less severe intestinal microflora disturbances, which frequently were of latent character. The degree of dysbacteriosis tended to grow along with the severity of the disease.