title: Duodenal microflora: a prospective study in pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.
abstract: Culture of the duodenal microflora was performed on 96 infants and children with a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. The resident microflora consists predominantly of oral-type microorganisms such as alpha-Streptococci and Neisseria. A fecal-type microflora was found in all 6 infants with post-surgical diarrhea and temporary monosachcaride intolerance; 4 of 22 patients with protracted diarrhea of infancy, 3 of 22 patients with celiac disease, and none of 32 patients with nonspecific diarrhea or 14 others with miscellaneous disorders. Anaerobic microorganisms were seldom isolated. Only 9% of the duodenal cultures were completely sterile, although a further 17 had a quantitative culture less than 5 times 10(4) microorganisms/ml. Small-bowel contamination with fecal-type microorganisms is associated with stasis and disturbance of the normal peristaltic-clearing mechanism. Duodenal culture is essential in any infant with temporary monosaccharide intolerance. It is occasionally useful in other situations where motility may be disturbed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000382:microbiology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009005:Monosaccharides; D009343:Neisseria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D009005:Monosaccharides