Chapter 17 - Normal Flora of the Human Body

Non-Specific Resistance - The body’s defense

1. Physical Barrier - The Body’s Main Line of defense
Skin - The first line of defense.
Lysozyme secreted by sweat glands break down cell walls of microbes.
Many transient microbes found here.
Mucous membrane-
Urinary
Reproductive
Eye
- Lysozyme (antimicrobial substance) secreted in tears

2. Mechanical Factors - Fig. 17.6

a. Lachrymal Apparatus
- lysozyme in tears
b. Saliva
- helps to wash down microbes into the stomach where their killed by the acidic environment
c. Mucous
- Found in upper respiratory tract. The thick mucous traps microbes and then flows downward and
eventually swallowed and killed in the acidic environment of the stomach.
d. Mucous-coated hairs
- Cilia flush bacteria
1. Upper Tract - flush bacteria to digestive tract
2. Lower Tract - act as a ciliary escalator moving the mucous & microbes upward and out.
e. Flow of Urine
- flush out bacteria
f. Vaginal Secretions
- flush out
g. Peristalsis
- in GI tract flush out

3. Chemical Factors
a. Oil Glands
- produce sebum (protective film)
b. Low pH
- of the skin help to inhibit microbial growth
c. Sweat Glands
- produce lysozyme (Antimicrobial substance)
- flush
- high concentration NaCl inhibit Microbial growth.
d. Gastric Juices
- in GI tract
- too acidic for most microbial growth
e. Resident Flora - allows immune system to establish
- Normal Flora - Microorganisms which normally inhabit the healthy human body or other natural
environments.
Commensalism - one benefits, other is unaffected (microbes on your skin)
Mutualism - both benefit (E. coli makes vitamin K for humans)
Parasitism - one benefits at the others expense (if a flora gets into an area of the body other
than that from which he lives)
Opportunistic - starts out commensalist then changes to parasite (candida)
- Transient Flora - present for short periods but not disease-causing
Examples of Normal Flora
Skin Eye (Cornea) Upper Resp. tract Tongue
Staphylococcus Staphylococcus Staph Candida
Proprionibacteria Strep Strep Streptococcus
Diptheroids Neisseria Neisseria Neisseria
Candida Haemophilus Lactobacillus
Branhamella (adult infection)

Teeth Stomach Small Intestine Large Intestine

Streptococcus Lactobacillus Enterococcus E. coli
Bacteroides Candida Lactobacillus Proteus
Fusobacterium Bacteroides Klebsiella
E. coli Enterobacter
Bacteroides

Reproductive System Sterile Locations

Staph Blood
Streptococcus Spinal Fluid
Neisseria Urine in bladder & in kidneys
E. coli
Candida