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Normal Flora: BY: Ms Lumingu

1. Normal flora are microorganisms that naturally inhabit healthy human bodies and help maintain balance. 2. They are found on skin, in eyes, ears, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. 3. Resident flora permanently colonize these areas, while transient flora are temporary visitors that do not establish permanent residence. 4. Normal flora provide benefits like inhibiting pathogens, but can also cause issues like body odor or dental cavities if their balance is disrupted.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
24 views44 pages

Normal Flora: BY: Ms Lumingu

1. Normal flora are microorganisms that naturally inhabit healthy human bodies and help maintain balance. 2. They are found on skin, in eyes, ears, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. 3. Resident flora permanently colonize these areas, while transient flora are temporary visitors that do not establish permanent residence. 4. Normal flora provide benefits like inhibiting pathogens, but can also cause issues like body odor or dental cavities if their balance is disrupted.

Uploaded by

Judith
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NORMAL FLORA

BY: Ms Lumingu
NORMAL FLORA

What is Normal Flora ?


These are a combination of microorganisms regularly found
at any anatomical site on/within the body of a healthy
person. Some of these microorganisms are found in
association with humans/ animals only. Others are found in
the environment as well.
NORMAL FLORA TYPES
Resident vs. Transient
Resident populations (normal flora, microbiota, indigenous
microbial population, microflora,) Vast majority of normal flora
are bacteria.
RESIDENT FLORA
Resident flora: If disturbed, it promptly
reestablishes itself/ microorganisms
 may  colonize, proliferate and produce diseases
TRANSIENT FLORA
Non‐pathogenic or potentially pathogenic 
microorganisms that inhabit the skin or mucous 
membranes for hours, days, or weeks.
They are derived from the environment, they
do not produce  disease.
They do not establish itself permanently on the  surface.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ORGANISMS
• Symbiosis : Permanent association between two different organisms.
• Neutralism : Two organisms living together, and neither is affected by that.
• Commensalism: Two organisms living together, one is benefited and the other
is not been affected.
• Mutualism: Two organisms living together, and both benefit from that.
• Parasitism: Two organisms living together, one is benefited ‘’called parasite’’
and the other is harmed ‘’called host’’.
• Synergism: Sometimes, two (or more) microorganism may work together
“team up” to produce a disease that neither could cause by itself.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NORMAL FLORA AND 
HOST
A fetus is sterile when born (No Normal Flora), then starts
having the normal flora from its mother, air, food and the
environment.
Our internal organs are sterile like the spleen, liver,
pancreas, bladder, and blood unless during infection.
Normal flora differ from one human to another depending
on age, diet, and geographic habitat.
When the number of resident normal flora is greatly
reduced, opportunistic microbes can easily cause infections
in these areas e.g. Candida albicans that cause candidiasis
TRANSIENT NORMAL FLORA
Normal flora that are temporarily living on and within humans.
The transient microbes living in the external environment are attracted
to moist, warm body areas.
Why are these microbes temporary?
• They may be washed from external areas by bathing.
• They may not be able to compete with resident normal flora.
• They may be killed by substances produced by the resident normal flora.
• They may not survive in the acidic or alkaline pH of the site.
• They may be flushed away by bodily secretions like tears, sweat, oil, urine,
feces,..).
WHERE CAN WE FIND NORMAL
FLORA?
Resident normal flora are found in sites exposed to the outside
world (external environment) like the skin, all body openings, and
mucous membranes that line the digestive and genital urinary tracts.
• Skin
• Eyes and Ears
• Respiratory Tract
• Oral Cavity (Mouth)
• Gastrointestinal Tract
• Urogenital Tract
WHY SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT
NORMAL FLORA?
We all should know about the types and distribution of normal
flora in our bodies because:
It gives us better understanding of the possible infections that
result from injury to a specific body site. As well as the
possible sources and significance of microorganisms isolated
from the site of an infection.
ESTIMATION OF THE NORMAL FLORA

It has been calculated that the normal flora of the human


body is about 1012 bacteria on the skin, 1010 in the mouth,
and 1014 in the gastrointestinal tract.
NORMAL FLORA

Human body
• 1012cells
• 1014bacteria
NORMAL MICROFLORA OF THE SKIN
The skin is generally a dry, acidic environment that does not
support the growth of most microorganisms
Moist areas (e.g., sweat glands) are readily colonized by gram-
positive bacteria and other normal flora of the skin.
The composition of microflora may be influenced by:
• Environmental factors (e.g., weather)
• Host factors (e.g., age, personal hygiene)
NORMAL FLORA OF THE SKIN
 Resident bacteria of the skin are mainly bacteria and fungi
and can be in any layer of the skin.
• Aerobic Bacteria: Present in the outer layer of skin.
(Staphylococcus epidermidis (accounts 90%)
+Staphylococcus aureus).
• Anaerobic Bacteria: (More than Aerobic bacteria)
Present in the deeper skin layers, hair follicles, and sweat
& sebaceous glands. (Propionibacterium acnes)
THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF NORMAL FLORA DEPENDS ON:

• Moisture.
• pH
• Temperature.
• Salinity.
• Chemical waste (urea, fatty acids,..)
• Other microbes.
Skin normal flora are generally harmless but it might cause bloodstream
infections if it penetrate the skin.
Healthcare workers should maintain proper hygiene (skin and clothing) to
prevent self infection or transferring infection to patients.
NORMAL FLORA‐SKIN
FACTORS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN ELIMIN
ATING  NON‐
RESIDENT MICROORGANISM FROM THE S
KIN
• Low pH
• Fatty acids (sebaceous secretions)
• Lysozyme
Ps:Neither profuse sweating nor washing and
bathing can eliminate or significantly modify the
normal resident flora.
NORMAL FLORA IN THE SKIN
NORMAL FLORA OF THE SKIN:

Benefits
Inhibit fungal growth  Harm
(athlete’s foot) Body odor Acne
Opportunistic 
infections
EYES
The external surface of the eye is cleaned and protected by
tears, mucus, and oil.
Tears, that contain Lysozyme enzyme, will reduce the
number of normal flora of the eye.
The conjunctiva of the eye primarily has: Staphylococcus,
Streptococcus and Corynebacterium.
P.S The conjunctiva covers the white part of the eye and lines
the inside of the eyelids.
NORMAL FLORA OF THE EYE
EARS
• The middle ear and inner ear: are usually sterile.
• The outer ear and the auditory canal: contain the same normal
flora of the moist areas like nose and mouth.
• When the person coughs, sneezes, or blows his nose, these
microbes may move into the middle ear where they cause infection.

• Also infection of the middle ear develops If the eustachian tube


does not open and close properly to maintain air pressure.
NORMAL MICROFLORA OF THE ORAL
CAVITY
• The oral cavity is a complex, heterogeneous microbial
habitat
• Saliva contains antimicrobial enzymes
• But high concentrations of nutrients near surfaces in the
mouth promote localized microbial growth
• The tooth consists of a mineral matrix (enamel)
surrounding living tissue (dentin and pulp; Figure
bellow)
NORMAL FLORA OF THE ORAL
CAVITY
Benefits:
• Compete with  pathogens for  colonization sites
• Produce substances  that inhibit pathogens
• Stimulate local  immunity
Harm
• Plaque formation and  dental disease
NORMAL MICROFLORA OF THE ORAL CAVITY

 Extensive growth of oral microorganisms, especially streptococci, results in a


thick bacterial layer (dental plaque).
 As plaque continues to develop, anaerobic bacterial species begin to grow.
As dental plaque accumulates, the microorganisms
produce high concentrations of acid that results in
decalcification of the tooth enamel (dental caries)
The lactic acid bacteria Streptococcus sobrinus and
Streptococcus mutans are common agents in dental
caries.
ORAL CAVITY (MOUTH)

They have both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The most


common ones are: C. diphtheroids S. aureus, S. epidermidis.
• Also yeasts, molds, protozoa, and viruses can be living in
the mouth.
• Teeth and Gengiva(gum): S. mutans
Ps:Poor dental hygiene help bacteria to grow and cause
dental caries, gingivitis,...
• After dental surgeries, there might be a risk of
bloodstream infection that might cause endocarditis.
RESPIRATORY TRACT
Upper Respiratory Tract: Nose and throat have many micro-
organismes:
Normal flora: Corynebacterium (diphtheroids).
Opportunistic: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus
Carriers: only in some people have virulent bacteria like C.
diphtheriae and S. pneumoniae.
Lower Respiratory Tract: Is usually sterile because the mucous
membranes and lungs remove any microbes.
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
• Stomach: Only few bacteria are present in the stomach due to gastric
enzymes and acidic pH.
• Small intestine: Only few normal flora are present in the upper part of
small intestine because bile kills them. Lower parts have more no. of
normal flora.
• Large intestine: Has more bacteria than any other part of the body. 99%
of normal flora in the large intestine are anaerobic.
• many fungi, protozoa, and viruses can live there.
• Many of the normal flora are opportunistic i.e. if they move to other areas
e.g. E.coli cause urinary infection.
SMALL INTESTINE
Normal flora of GI tract: streptococci, lactobacilli, Enterococci, Enterics,
anaerobic rods and cocci
 

Benefits Harm
Production of vitamins an Possible relationship with; 
d nutrients. Inflammatory conditions.
Competition with  Transfer antibiotic
pathogens for colonization resistance to pathogens.
  sites
Production of substances
that inhibit pathogens.
LARGE INTESTINE

Normal flora of GI tract: Bacteroids, clostridia, bifidobacteria, lactic acid bacteria, enterococci, enterics

Benefits
Competition with  pathogens for 
colonization sites. Production of  Harm
substances that 
Relationship with  inflammatory
inhibit pathogens. Stimulate 
development and  bowel  diseases Production of 
activity of immune  system. carcinogens and 
relationship with colon  cancer
Methanogenesis
UROGENITAL TRACT

• Kidneys, Ureters and Urinary Bladder are sterile.


• Lower Urethra and external opening: bacteria, yeast, and viruses.
• Has the same bacteria present on the skin.
Genital Organs
• Male and female genitals: are sterile except vagina.
• Vagina: Lactobacillus spp. keeps the pH acidic to protect the vagina
from opportunistic infections e.g. fungal vaginitis (Candida
albicans) or bacterial vaginosis (Bacteroides spp Gardnerella
vaginalis).
NORMAL FLORA IN THE VAGINA
NORMAL FLORA OF THE VAGINA-DURING
CHILD-BEARING LACTOBACILLI AND OTHER
LACTIC ACID BACTERIA
• Benefits
Competition with  pathogens for  colonization sites
Production of lactic  acid that inhibits  pathogenic bacteria 
and yeasts
• Harm
None
BENEFICIAL FUNCTIONS OF NORMAL FLORA

• Protect our organs and systems that are in direct contact with
the external environment from invading pathogens. Some
normal flora produce substances that kill pathogens and others
compete with them for nutrients.
• In newborns, normal flora stimulates the development of the
immune system.
• Normal flora of the gut provides important nutrients such as
Vitamin K which aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients .
HARMFUL EFFECT OF NORMAL FLORA

• When normal flora are displaced from their normal site of the body
they may cause infections e.g. (blood stream infection)by S.
epidermidis.
• Potential pathogens gain a competitive advantage due to diminished
populations of harmless competitors e.g. C. difficile growing in the gut
after antibiotic therapy.
• Harmless, commonly ingested food substances are converted into
carcinogenic derivatives by bacteria in the colon e.g. sweetener
cyclamate.
• In immunocompromised individuals, normal flora can overgrow and
become pathogenic.

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