[Bacterial flora of the surgically treated stomach]

In 33 patients operated on for peptic ulcer the pH and the bacterial flora of the gastric contents were studied. In 30 cases the pH of the gastric juice was increased, and parallelly the bacterial flora was more numerous. In 33 patients 139 various bacterial strains were cultured from gastric juice (70 strains of Enterobacteriaceae, 46 strains of cocci and Gram+ bacilli, 23 strains of fungi) in concentrations of 10(3)-10(7)/ml. In the light of literature data the authors discuss the clinical importance of excessive growth, qualitative and quantitative, of bacterial flora in the stomach as demonstrated during the operation.