title: [Effects of high-pressure argon-containing gaseous compositions on operators' rhinopharynx and external ear microflora and its reactivity to antibiotics].
abstract: Earlier investigations revealed an important microbiological feature of the human in hyperbaric environment--linear progressive unbalance in the opportunistic and commensal ratio within the main biotopes. Change in the gaseous environment may influence the activity of infectious agents. Purpose of our investigation was to study effects of argon-containing gaseous compositions on the rhinopharynx and external ear microflora in operators, and its reactivity to antibiotics. Attempted was quantification of the operators' aerobic microflora exposed for 6, 7 and 18 days to argon-containing gaseous compositions (normoxic and hypoxic) under an elevated pressure (0.15-0.5 MPa). Evaluated was also susceptibility of the human microflora to antibiotics of the basic chemical classes under these conditions. The argon-containing gaseous compositions in the above pressure range did not have any specific effects on the ratio of aerobic gram-negative bacilli and staphylococci; neither they created selective advantages to any of the groups of microorganisms under study. It was found additionally that long-duration exposure in the argon-containing gaseous environment (6, 7 and 18 days) gave rise to cultures with the signs of hospitalism (e.g., high index of multiple drug resistance). Potentiality of infection development in dwelling modules with argon-containing gaseous environment and proliferation of polyresistant strains point to the necessity to design a respective preventive system.
authors.forename: Z O
authors.initials: ZO
authors.lastname: Solov'eva
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Il'in
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000399:Air Pressure; D001128:Argon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D004431:Ear, External / Q000382:microbiology*; D005740:Gases / Q000494:pharmacology; D016946:Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D001128:Argon