Which bacteria in the intestine are contagious?
Some bacteria, which occur naturally in the intestine, can cause diseases in certain situations. There are some examples (Proteus, Klebsiellen, E. coli) of bacteria that can cause diseases such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections when they pass from the intestine to other parts of the body. Especially the proximity of the anus and vagina of women often leads to infections.
What are histamine-forming bacteria?
Histamine production is attributed to some bacteria in the human gut. This can be a problem especially in cases of histamine intolerance or allergy. In this context, symptoms such as skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea and asthma attacks are reported.
However, it should be noted that the clinical picture of histamine intolerance is not accepted by all doctors, let alone known to them. Among the histamine-producing bacteria, the bacterium Morganella morganii (formerly Proteus morganii) is the most frequently mentioned. Here, it is recommended to measure the activity of the enzyme diaminooxidase (DAO) in order to investigate the presence of the bacterium.
Alternatively, a stool test can be performed. However, the clinical picture and the diagnosis are more likely to be attributed to alternative medicine and are not sufficiently scientifically proven. For this reason, the subject should be viewed with a certain amount of scepticism within the framework of conventional medicine.
The human intestine is rich in microbial pathogens. It is colonized by bacteria as well as archaeae (original bacteria) and eukaryotes (living beings whose cells have a cell nucleus). In general, it can be assumed that there are about ten times as many microorganisms in the intestine as there are cells in the human body.
In every single gram of stool there are more bacteria than there are people on earth. How many different types of these bacteria in the intestine can be assigned to is still unclear today. It is assumed, however, that within the intestine about 1000 to 1400 different strains of bacteria can be found.
In a direct comparison between the small and large intestine, the bacterial colonisation of the large intestine is much more dense. The bacteria found in the intestine are roughly divided into two groups: the health-damaging, putrefactive bacteria (synonym: coliform bacteria) and the health-promoting bacteria (synonym: probiotics), to which, in addition to many other bacterial strains, the well-known lacto- and bifidobacteria also belong. In addition, it has already been proven that the colonization density of bacteria in the intestines of newborns and infants is comparatively low.
In the course of life, however, the number of bacteria in the intestine increases steadily and grows into an extensive microflora. This microflora is involved both in the direct defence against pathogens (so-called colonisation resistance) and in the modulation of the immune system. In particular, the bacterial pathogens that are located in the colon do not necessarily have to be of a pathological character.
In addition to supporting the digestive process, these bacteria play a decisive role in the absorption of vitamins and in stimulating the mobility of the intestinal loops (stimulation of intestinal peristalsis). The presence of such enormous amounts of bacteria in the intestine is therefore even beneficial for the human organism. However, experimental studies on mice have shown that some bacterial pathogens and various amoebae only develop pathogenic properties through the presence of the intestinal flora. Furthermore, a deviation from the normal imbalance of bacteria in the intestine can have a negative influence on the state of health. Bacteria that are not usually found in the intestine can also lead to serious gastrointestinal diseases that are associated with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
