The effect of campylobacter lipopolysaccharide on fetal development in the mouse

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Abstract
The faecal flora and mucosa-associated flora (MAF) of rectal biopsy material from 12 patients with active Crohn's disease were studied before and during treatment with a combination of metronidazole and cotrimoxazole given orally for at least 2 weeks. The total faecal flora was greater than the MAF although the proportions of bacterial groups were similar. The changes observed during treatment were: obligate anaerobes such as Bacteroides spp. decreased in faeces (p ≪ 0·05) and in MAF (p ≪ 0·02); the total count of facultative bacteria increased in the faeces (p≪ 0·002) but not in the MAF. Steptococci, predominantly enterococci, increased significantly in faeces (p≪0·001) and in MAF (p ≪ 0·02) such that they became predominant components of these florae. Facultative gram-negative bacilli were unaltered in faeces but significantly reduced in the MAF (p≪0·05). Sporing Clostridia were infrequently isolated from the MAF but were significantly reduced in the faeces (p ≪0·01).