- Boils, pimples, spots:
- These are often the result of such bacterial infections as the Micrococcus pyogenes, variety aureus, previously known as Staphylococcus aureus.
- Ears:
- They usually contain Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Staphylococcus. The outer ear canal is lubricated with a waxy deposit that contains antibacterial components.
- Eyes:
- Eyes have protective secretions within tears, in addition to the continual movement of blinking that flushes any microorganisms that could stay and cause disease. Tears contain the enzyme lysozyme that destroy certain Gram-positive bacteria.
- Mouth:
- Actinomyces, Bacteroides, Campylobacter, Streptococcus salivarius, but mostly haemolytic streptococci, and Veillonella; plus the facultative anaerobic Haemophilus, Lactobacillus, Neisseria, and Staphylococcus. The mouth houses about 1010 bacteria, but the numbers and varieties are determined by the presence or absence of teeth, tooth decay, gum disease, and hygenic practices.
- Saliva:
- Saliva contains between 10,000 and 1 billion microorganisms per milliliter (1/5 tsp) of about 600 bacterial species. Common are Streptococci, Lactobacilli, Veillonella, Bacteroides, Staphylococci, and Corynebacteria, as well as some fusiform bacilli and spirochetes, which can combine to form such diseases as trenchmouth or gingivitis.
- Teeth:
- Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis. In the crevices of the gums and teeth can be found various species of the genus Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and spirochaetes.
- Respiratory tract:
- It contains Staphylococci, micrococci, Corynebacteria, and such various Gram-negative and Gram-positive as Streptococcus, Moraxella, Neisseria, and Haemophilus.
- Nares:
- The nares may contain large numbers of Staphylococcus epidermidis, S.aureus, and diphtheroids. Occasionally, an organism called Branhamella catarrhalis and an opportunistic pathogen called Haemophilus influenza are sometimes present.
- Nasal Passages:
- Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus.
The pharynx also contains large numbers of diphtheroids and B. catarrhalis. Periodically other bacteria may be present, including Streptococcus pyogenes, viridans streptococci, S. pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and H. influenzae. Effective defence mechanisms of a healthy person can rapidly remove these harmful organisms from the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. Nasal hairs filter (ciliated cellular activity). Each ciliated cell contains several hundred cilia (hair-like structures). In between every four or five cilia are mucus-secreting cells. This mucus serves as a sticky surface that contains antimicrobial substances to collect bacteria. The movement of the cilia moves the mucus into the pharyngeal area where the bacteria is disposed of through swallowing. Smaller airborne particles are carried into the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, where ciliated epthelial cells move them along until coughing or clearing the throat clears them. Alveolar macrophages are located in the air sacs and are able to ingest and destroy most microorganisms in healthy lungs. - Paranasal sinuses, larynx, lower respiratory tract:
- These are not normally colonized.
- Stomach:
- It contain only about 1,000 per ml of bacteria because of the stomach acids and bile salts. However, Helicobacter pylori is able to withstand these acids, causing stomach ulcers. The use of antacids cause the multiplication of harmful bacteria since antacids alter the acid content of the stomach, creating an atmosphere pathogens love.
- Small intestine:
- The upper parts (duodenum and the jejunum) are sparsely populated with only about 10,000 organisms per ml. of contents. These are mainly transient bacteria that stay in the GI tract for a relatively short period of time. However, further down the ileum, there is a varied and permanent population of organisms that may number between 100,000 to 10 million organisms per ml. The types of bacteria found there include Streptococci, some Bacteroides, a variety of yeasts and enterobacteria (some of which are harmful), bifidobacteria (friendly), and lactobacilli. Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most important of the friendly bacteria that live in the small intestines. L. bulgaricus and L. casei are also beneficial transient members found in varying numbers. A desirable trait of the superstrains of L. acidophilus is that they naturally adhere to the walls of the intestines, thus preventing pathogens from setting up residence. These superstrains also assist in the production of hydrogen peroxide, acids, and natural antibiotics.
- Large intestine:
- Bacteroides, Clostridia, Escherichia, Proteus. There are over 400 different species of microorganisms that are common inhabitants of the colon. This includes about 100 billion to 1000 billion bacteria per milliliter, accounting for about one-third of the weight of fecal matter. This amount is more than the total number of body cells. It has been estimated that gas released from the activity of bowel microbes would reach twenty-four liters per day when, in reality, it is only about one liter. Therefore, the remaining gas is thought to be used by the resident microbes in the bowel. By the time the food reaches this area, it has become a watery mass devoid of nutrients. It is the responsibility of the large intestine to formulate and remove this waste material, which needs to be done quickly before putrification begins. The most dangerous pathogens feed off putrified waste.
Resident bacteria in children are: Bifidobacteria infantis, B. bifidum, B. longum, and B. breve, as well as L.acidophilus. These are special varieties and not the types found in adults. The bacteria that pass through their intestinal tracts are: Lactobacillus bulgricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Resident bacteria in adults are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteria bacterium, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Enterococci. Passing through the adult tract are Lactobacillus casei (from cheese), Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Lactobacillus bulgarius. The common bacteria of the adult colon include facultative: Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Proteus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, as well as Candida albicans. Over 99% of the colon’s bacteria are obligate anaerobes namely: Baceroides, Fusobacterium, Clostridium, Peptostreptococcus, and Eubacteria. The friendly bacteria help stave off opportunistic pathogens looking for a place to attach themselves to the intestinal wall. They also produce acids which create a hostile environment since most dangerous microbes require an alkaline atmosphere (as that found when antacids are used). The “friendly flora” also produce some B-complex vitamins and assist in the dietary management of some liver conditions including preventing harmful bacteria from altering nitrates to nitrites which are known carcinogens.
Infection of the intestines by viruses, bacteria, or parasites contributes to food intolerances. In one study, patients infected with Giardia lamblia were 100% lactose intolerant. Doctors, for years, have been well aware that intestinal viral infections cause a temporary food intolerance. When antibiotics are used, the number of friendly bacteria decreases, and the tendency toward food intolerances increases. Using heavily chlorinated tap water is another means of reducing the normal flora of the bowel. Other contributors include poor nutritional habits, consumption of the wrong types of fats, too much sugar or junk food, too little fiber, and too few fruits and vegetables. These make it difficult for the absorption of nutrients to take place and for the digestive tract to form new cells.
- Urethra:
- Acinetobacter, Escherichia, Staphylococcus. Normally, the bladder, ureters, and kidneys are free of microorganisms. The genital tract protects itself by regular urine flushing, prostatic secretions, and secretory antibodies that regularly flush the tract. The acidic content of the urine inhibits the growth of Gram-negative enteric bacteria, but does allow for growth of bacteroides, diphtheroids, staphylococci, enterococci, and Candida albicans. The distal, or lower portion of the urethra, contains Gram-negative cocci, Corynebacteria, and mycoplasmas. The microflora also undergoes some changes during hormonal variations. The external genitalia are generally colonized with Mycobacterium smegmatis. This bacterium occasionally contaminates urine samples, confusing the lab with a diagnosis of renal tuberculosis.
- Vagina (adult, premenopausal):
- Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus. In pre-puberty and post-menopausal women, the vaginal flora are comprised of enterococci, coagulase-negative Staphylococci, coliform bacilli, and Corynebacteria. During the reproductive years, the vaginal flora is dominated by lactobacilli (Döderlein bacilli) in a mixture containing yeasts, cornebacteria, and mycoplasmas.
- Mucous membranes:
- The mucous membranes of such body cavities as the vagina, bowel, and respiratory tract consist of one or more layers of cells that are bathed in mucus helping to trap and remove microbes.
- Skin:
- The skin houses about 1,012 bacteria compared to 1,013 number of cells in the entire body. Depending on personal hygiene and the immediate environmental conditions, superficial layers of the skin contain many dead cells where colonies of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus, and Gram-negative bacilli known as diphtheroids inhabit. An anerobic bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes inhabits the sebaceous glands and is not destroyed by most skin cleansings. This bacterium is a common blood contaminant spread when tissue samples are obtained or a needle pierces the skin. It is also thought to work synergistically with other bacteria in the development of pimples. Most pathogenic bacteria are unable to survive on clean, healthy skin because of the acid pH of the skin. The sebaceous glands also secrete bacterial acids. An exception is S. aureus, which is able to persist and is a frequent source of infection when the skin barrier is broken.
- Body odor:
- With the exception of bad breath, body odor originates from the skin. The body produces two types of sweat from two types of sweat glands (eccrine and apocrine). Most body odor is a result of bacteria that thrive on secretions from the apocrine sweat glands. These glands, located primarily under the arms and in the pubic area, begin to function during puberty. They react to most anything – heat, stress, anger, nervousness, sexual excitement, fear, etc. When sweat is excreted from these glands, skin bacteria begin to multiply as they digest the sweat and the dead layer of skin. It is this decomposition process that produces the odor. The best way to eliminate that is through good hygiene. Other causes of body odor are the result of an overall unhealthy body, including gastrointestinal problems. An aluminum-like odor to the body can be caused by bacteria. Such skin infections as athlete’s foot are also responsible for body odor. Metabolic problems, as in the case of eating too much protein or fat, contribute to body odor. Eating whole foods, less protein and fat, and consuming friendly bacteria will go a long way in remedying any unpleasant body odor. Eating fennel after a meal will not only cleanse the breath, but will improve poor digestion that is the cause of some of the odor.
