A study on the aerobic intestinal microflora in patients with salmonellosis and shigellosis

Human intestinal microflora provides substantial protection of the body against intestinal pathogens and affects the course and outcome of intestinal infections with diarrheal syndrome. We studied the aerobic intestinal microflora in 120 patients with salmonellosis and 60 patients with shigellosis. Intestinal microflora was determined qualitatively assessing the relative share of E. coli and other aerobic representatives of the potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Disturbances of the aerobic intestinal microflora were found in 76% of the patients with salmonellosis and 80% of the patients with shigellosis in the acute stage of the disease. They occurred more commonly and were graver in the severe clinical forms of intestinal infections. Their frequency in convalescent bacterial carriers was greater.