Specimens from the conjunctival sacs of 92 healthy eyes were cultured on two separate occasions to determine the presence or absence of a persistent anaerobic flora. Aerobic bacteria and fungi were also studied for comparison. Of the 184 eye cultures, 112 (60.9%) contained at least one microorganism. Obligate anaerobes were recovered from 51.6% (95/184) of the cultures. Propionibacterium acnes,...

The genetic and biochemical basis of ampicillin resistance amongst the aerobic Gram-negative commensal faecal flora of healthy volunteers in South Africa has been determined. Amongst 608 ampicillin resistant strains isolated from 320 of the participants, 158 were able to transfer their ampicillin resistant determinants into Escherichia coli K-12 J62-2. Iso-electric focusing of the beta-lactamas...

clostridium diffcile is part of the normal intestinal flora in a small proportion of healthy persons. when exposed to antibiotics, the normal enteric flora is altered, permitting the overgrowth of these relatively resistant organisms. proliferation of the organisms with localized production of their toxins leads to disease (pseudomembran colitis or antibiotic associated diarrhea). in this study...

The conditions of helium saturation diving promote the proliferation of Gram-negative bacterial species in the external auditory meatus of divers. These changes in flora occurred in the absence of operational diving, that is, no contact with water. The colonising bacteria were autogenous in origin and cross-colonisation was observed between divers. On return to normal atmospheric conditions the...

A 59-year-old male diabetic was admitted with an acute myocardial infarction and had recurrent. Propionibacterium acnes bacteremia. Fifteen months after the initial admission a splenectomy was required for removal of a large splenic abscess caused by P. acnes. Although this organism represents part of the normal skin flora, its presence of blood cultures requires serious evaluation since it may...

Studies of the bacterial flora of the nasopharynx were made in isolated communities in South Alabama and Labrador. The basic flora was determined in both communities. In Alabama an epidemic of common colds was studied. In Labrador cases of sporadic colds and an epidemic of tracheitis were studied. Gram-negative cocci were found in nearly all normal individuals in moderate numbers. In pathologic...

acinetobacter lwoffii, an important nosocomial pathogen, is a gram-negative aerobic bacillus that is a component of the normal flora on the skin, oropharynx, and perineum of about 20-25% of healthy individuals. we herein present a case of a 66-year-old man with combined mitral and aortic valve endocarditis associated with multi-drug resistance acinetobacter lowffii bacteremia.

renal actinomycosis is a rare infection, and actinomycosis mostly acts as a normal flora in mouth, colon and vagina. we present a case of 56 years old man, who referred to our center for renal transplantation with kidney stone and diagnosed  with renal actinomycosis.  this case has risen possibility of rare infection that can be considered in the setting of renal transplantation.

Probiotic therapy is attracting the renewed interest of clinicians and basic investigators from a variety of traditional research disciplines. While the theoretical rationale for modifying the commensal flora of the gastrointestinal tract in specific circumstances appears sound and requires scientific pursuit, the field of probiotics has been clouded by exaggerated claims from some quarters. In...

As is the case for all anatomic sites with a mucosal surface, the vagina may be colonized by a variety of bacteria, fungi, and other potential pathogens. A normal vaginal flora is predominately composed of Lactobacillus species, with low bacterial diversity [1]. Lactobacilli provide significant health benefits to the host by decreasing the vaginal pH through lactic acid production, generating H...