Normal Flora: BY: Ms Lumingu
Normal Flora: BY: Ms Lumingu
BY: Ms Lumingu
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.
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
• 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.