A Study on Intestinal E. Col-with Special Regard to Preventative Health Aspects Utilizing a Serological Classification

Abstract

It has been well established that the intestinal flora occupies an extremely important role in the preservation of the good health of an individual. Antibiotics as used are primarily directed to eradication of target bacilli but close observation must be kept on their effect on the normal intestinal flora. Suppression of this normal flora may lead to the superinfection phenomenon. In fact this concept has been further elaborated to the point that awareness of the problems of interference with normal bowel physiology has been developed. Disruption of E. coli normal flora by invasion with external pathogens leading to dysentery has been recognized. However ease of differentiation of pathogens from normal E. coli bowel inhabitants has been a problem The author isolated E. coli from stools and sub-grouped them serologically. The alterations and flow of E. coli were followed in a day to day study. The results were as follows:1) In healthy subjects, E. coli of the same serotype are stable and permanent bowel inhabitants.2) With diarrhea the intestinal flora is disrupted and alterations in normal resident E. coli are seen.3) In those constitutionally disposed to diarrhea more than 2 serotypes of E. coli are normally resident in the bowel of a majority of them. These individuals thus seem to be in poor bowel homeostasis.4) In acute gastroenteritis not due to a specific organism a transient alteration occurs but rapidly returns to a stabilized growth of E. coli. These results indicate that E.coli which is always present in normal intestine plays a delicate role in the preservation of our health. Thus the maintenance of a strong stabilized strain of E. coli is required for health.