Normal Flora
OPTOMETRY · SEMESTER 2 Normal Flora Microbiology and Parasitology START READING NOTES Contents of This Topic Learning Objectives Definition of terms Definition of terms cont.. Types of normal flora Based on Relationship with the Host Based on Location in the Body Normal flora found in different body parts Normal flora found in different body parts cont.. Normal flora found in different body parts cont… Normal flora found on body parts cont… Normal flora found on body parts cont.… The body parts without normal flora The body parts without normal flora cont…. The body parts without normal flora cont… Advantages of normal flora Disadvantages of normal flora Disadvantages of normal flora cont.. Pathogen Classification of pathogens Characteristics of pathogens Characteristics of pathogens cont.. Questions NORMAL FLORA AND PATHOGENS Learning Objectives By the end of this session, students are expected to be able to: Define normal flora, mycology, pathogen and vector Identify normal flora found in different body parts Explain the importance of normal flora Describe the classification and general characteristics of pathogens of medical importance Definition of terms Normal flora : Microorganisms (mostly bacteria, but also fungi and viruses) that naturally live on or inside the human body without causing disease. They can be commensalisms or mutualists with regard to the hosts. Basically, normal flora do not harm the host however can provide the benefits to the hosts NOTE: Normal flora can cause disease when the defense mechanisms of the body is breached or when the micro-organism is placed in the abnormal body site or dislocated Definition of terms cont.. Pathogen: Is an organism which is capable of causing pathological condition to another organism. Vector: Is an organism that conveys pathogens from one host to another. Infection: refers to the invasion of the pathogen into the body . Host : is an organism affected by the pathogen Note : for the disease to be caused by the pathogen the host body should be susceptible to infection Definition of terms cont.. Mycology :Is the branch of microbiology which deals with the study of fungi Virology: Is branch of microbiology which deals with the study of virus Bacteriology : the branch of microbiology which deals with the study of bacteria Types of normal flora Normal flora, also known as microbiota, can be categorized based on their relationship with the host and their location in or on the body. Normal flora can live permanently, temporary or just become infective when the immunity becomes compromised . Based on Relationship with the Host Type Description Resident Flora Long-term, stable microbes that consistently inhabit specific body sites. Transient Flora Temporary microbes that may colonize for short periods but do not persist. Opportunistic Flora Normally harmless but can cause disease if the host's defenses are compromised. Based on Location in the Body Body Site Common Microbes Found Skin Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium Nose/Nasopharynx Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae Mouth/Oral Cavity Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus, Actinomyces Gastrointestinal Tract Escherichia coli, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Clostridium Vagina Lactobacillus, Candida, Gardnerella Urethra (distal) Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus, Corynebacterium External Ear Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium Normal flora found in different body parts Normal flora tends to be commensal or mutual symbionts adapted to the special conditions found in various body locations. Normal flora are found mostly in : o skin o Eyes o Nose, pharynx and tonsils o In mouth and oral cavity o In urethra o In lower GIT o Urogenital tract o External ear Normal flora found in different body parts Skin Staphylococcus spp e.g. S.epidermidis, S.aureus Corynebacteria spp Propionibacterium spp Fungi Note the most common is s.epidermidis Normal flora found in different body parts cont.. Eyes Staphylococcus epidermidis and s.aureus Neisseria species. Haemophilus influenzae Corynebacteria spp Streptococcus species (viridans group) Propionibacterium spp Normal flora found in different body parts cont… Nose Staphylococcus epidermidis Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus spp Neisseria sp. Haemophilus influenzae Corynebacteria sp Micrococcus spp Normal flora found in different body parts cont… Mouth and pharynx Staphylococcus epidermidis Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus spp Neisseria sp. Haemophilus influenza Corynebacteria Lactobacillus spp Yeast e.g. candida albicans Enterococcus faecalis Actinomycetes Spirochetes Mycoplasmas Normal flora found in different body parts cont… Urethra Staphylococcus epidermidis, S.aureus Streptococcus mitis Enterococcus faecalis Neisseria sp Corynebacteria Mycoplasmas Normal flora found in different body parts cont… Lower GIT Staphylococcus epidermidis, S.aures Clostridium spp Lactobacillus Klebsiella spp Streptococcus mitis Enterococcus faecalis Escherichia coli Proteus sp Bacteroides spp Bifidobacterium bifidum Spirochetes Mycoplasmas Normal flora found on body parts cont… Vagina Streptococcus spp Staphylococcus spp Enterococcus faecalis Neisseria spp. Lactobacillus spp Corynebacterium Mycoplasma Candida albicans Normal flora found on body parts cont.… External ear Bacterial Flora Staphylococcus epidermidis – a dominant skin commensal Staphylococcus aureus – may be present in small numbers Corynebacterium species – part of the skin microbiota Propionibacterium acnes (now Cutibacterium acnes) – associated with sebaceous glands Alpha-hemolytic streptococci – including Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguinis Candida species – occasionally present, especially in moist environments Malassezia species – lipid-dependent yeasts found on skin The body parts without normal flora While many areas are colonized by these microbes, some body parts are typically sterile under normal conditions, meaning they do not harbor normal flora. Here are the major body sites that are normally sterile: Central Nervous System Brain Spinal cord Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) The body parts without normal flora cont…. Cardiovascular System Heart Blood vessels Blood Lower Respiratory Tract Trachea Bronchi Alveoli (lungs) The body parts without normal flora cont… Internal Organs and Tissues Liver Kidneys Pancreas Spleen Muscles Bones The body parts without normal flora cont… Body Fluids Urine (from the kidneys and bladder — not the urethra) Amniotic fluid Synovial fluid (in joints) Peritoneal fluid Pleural fluid Eyes Internal structures like the aqueous humor and vitreous body The body parts without normal flora cont… Reproductive System Uterus Fallopian tubes Ovaries Testes These areas are protected by physical barriers and immune defenses. If microbes are found in these locations, it often indicates infection or disease, such as meningitis (in the CSF), septicemia (in the blood), or pneumonia (in the lungs). Advantages of normal flora