The intestine is colonized by more than 400 different species of microorganisms that maintain the balance of the intestinal flora.If this balance is disturbed, that is, if there is a disturbance in the symbiosis (coexistence) between the intestinal flora and humans, diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases – Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis – can develop.The biodiversity of these microbes is great – their tasks are diverse:
- Prevent bacterial overgrowth – microbial barrier.
- Immune modulation and stimulation
- Vitamin production – production of important vitamins – the vitamin K by coli bacteria, vitamins B3, B5 and folic acid by clostridia species and vitamin B12 by some lactobacilli species. However, the amounts produced in the process are only of minor importance and contribute far from covering the daily requirement of these vital substances* .
- Nutrient and vital substance supply of the colonic mucosa (large intestine mucosa).
- Promote the metabolism of the intestinal wall by substances formed by the bacteria.
- Promoting intestinal motility (muscle movements of the intestine).
* Vital substances include vitamins, minerals, trace elements, vital amino acids, vital fatty acids, etc.If there are disturbances in the intestinal flora, the following complaints may occur:
- Meteorism (flatulence)
- Diarrhea (diarrhea)
- Pain
- Constipation (constipation)
- Feeling of fullness
The longer such a disturbance in the intestinal flora persists, the more severe the effects.In addition to changes in the intestinal tract, reactions to the altered intestinal flora can also occur outside the intestine:
- Allergies – for example, allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
- Skin lesions – such as atopic eczema (neurodermatitis).
- Fatigue, tiredness
- Candida albicans (fungal infection)
The procedure
To determine whether the cause of your complaints lies in a disturbed intestinal flora, a detailed intestinal flora analysis (synonym: dysbacteria analysis of the stool) based on a stool sample is recommended.
In contrast to the past, the intestinal flora analysis is no longer performed by microbiological culture but by DNA determination of the intestinal bacteria.
In this examination, the following microorganisms, among others, are detected.Microorganisms belonging to the healthy intestinal flora:
- Bifidobacteria
- Bacteroides species
- Clostridia
- Escherichia coli
- Lactobacilli
Any harmful microorganisms that may be present:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pathogenic (disease-causing) germs:
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- Shigella
- Yersinia
Other
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium difficile toxin – especially after antibiotic- ingestion.
- Fungi – sprout fungi, Candida albicans
Furthermore, as part of the intestinal flora analysis can be a detection of the eaeA gene, which plays a significant role in connection with the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases – ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Benefit
An intestinal flora analysis makes it possible to detect pathological changes in the intestinal flora. These can subsequently be successfully treated in such a targeted manner by microbiological therapy.
