Microbial Flora of Humans, Dysbacteriosis

Human microbial flora and dysbiosis are topics that have become relevant recently due to growing interest in a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating. Human microbial flora is a collection of microorganisms that live in the organs and tissues of a healthy person. Each organ and tissue has its own characteristic microflora, which depends on many factors, such as age, living conditions, nutrition and others.

The permanent human microflora consists mainly of microorganisms that have adapted to life on the skin and in certain cavities of the body. For example, bacteria live on human skin - staphylococci, streptococci, diphtheroids, as well as fungi - mold and yeast. Up to 100 types of microorganisms have been found in the oral cavity, including diplococci, micrococci, streptococci, lactic acid bacteria, etc. Different parts of the gastrointestinal tract differ from each other in the number and species composition of microorganisms living in them.

In the stomach of a healthy person, microorganisms are usually absent due to the pronounced antimicrobial properties of gastric juice. Microorganisms are found relatively rarely in the duodenum and small intestine. Most microorganisms are found in the large intestine. It is estimated that 1 g of feces contains 3-5 × 10^11 microorganisms, and the contents of the entire intestine contain about 10^15 microorganisms.

Non-permanent representatives of the human microbial flora are microorganisms that enter the human body with air, food, water and are quickly removed from it. Sharp changes in the species composition of microflora occur in various diseases, as well as in the irrational use of antibiotics. As a result, a state of dysbiosis may arise, in which the processes of absorption of nutrients by the body are disrupted, enzymatic reactions change, the synthesis of vitamins sharply decreases, etc. The consequence of all these shifts in the distribution and species composition of microflora can be diseases such as intestinal dyspepsia, toxic infections, suppurative processes, pneumonia, etc.

When dysbiosis occurs in the body, various symptoms may appear, such as pain and discomfort in the abdomen, diarrhea, constipation, gas formation, loss of appetite, etc. To diagnose dysbiosis, laboratory tests are carried out, including analyzes of stool, vaginal smears, urine and other biological materials.

Treatment of dysbiosis consists of correcting the microflora with the help of probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics and antibiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are used to restore and maintain normal microflora, while prebiotics are dietary fibers that are not absorbed by the body but serve as food for beneficial bacteria. Symbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics. Antibiotics are used only in cases where dysbiosis is caused by a bacterial infection.

To maintain healthy microflora, you need to monitor your diet, including foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics, such as yogurt, kefir, kvass, cabbage, green vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. It is also important to avoid excessive use of antibiotics without a doctor's prescription and practice good hygiene to prevent infection from various infections.