Normal Intestinal Bacteria in Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Summary 1.In our series of cases of chronic ulcerative colitis, the mean total bacteria count was 14,000 billion/gram of wet feces, or 1.4 × 10 13 . The mean colif orm bacteria count was 5,970 billion/gram of wet feces, or 6 × 10 12 . 2.The total intestinal bacteria count is increased 85 fold, while the coliform bacteria count is increased 50 fold over that of the normal. 3.If one relies on a role of specifically injurious enzymes, such as lysozyme which denudes the epithelium of its mucous barrier, the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis may be envisaged somewhat as follows: First, there is occasioned in some way not yet explainable, a marked increase in the total number of intestinal bacteria. Second, through enzymatic activity of these bacteria there is brought about initial damage to the mucosa. Third, there is actual, extensive destruction of the tissue by proteolytic bacterial enzymes, affording an opportunity for invasion and infection of the mucous membrane.