Alterations in small-bowel microflora in acute intestinal obstruction

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Abstract
Small-bowel content was examined bacteriologically while fresh and after storage for 24, 48, and 72 h in a modified Stuart''s medium. There was little alteration in the viable count of individual intestinal organisms. For accurate quantitative analysis, 0.3 ml of intestinal content was enough. Specimens of small-bowel content were obtained by needle aspiration, and a qualitative and quantitative study was made of the microflora of patients with acute intestinal obstruction and of a control group of patients. Results in the control group confirmed the findings of intubation studies by other workers, that a quantitative gradient of aerobic and anaerobic organisms exists from jejunum to distal ileum. In acute small-bowel obstruction and acute large-bowel obstruction there was a loss of the normal gradient and an increase in the absolute numbers of organisms present; this was particularly marked for anaerobic organisms in large-bowel obstruction.

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