The rectal mucosa-associated microflora in patients with ulcerative colitis

• Published in: Journal of medical microbiology Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 96 - 103
• Main Authors: HARTLEY, M. GILLIAN, HUDSON, M. J, SWARBRICK, E. T, HILL, M. J, GENT, A. E, HELLIER, M. D, GRACE, R. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01-02-1992; Society for General Microbiology
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Bacterial Infections - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Colitis, Ulcerative - microbiology; Colitis, Ulcerative - pathology; Colony Count, Microbial; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Intestinal Mucosa - microbiology; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Medical sciences; Rectum - microbiology; Rectum - pathology; Characterization; Treatment; Mucosa; Rectum; Digestive diseases; Bacteria; Microflora; Ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 0022-2615; 1473-5644
• DOI: 10.1099/00222615-36-2-96

1 Pathology Division, PHLS Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG
New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP
The General Infirmary, Salisbury, SP2 7SX
Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon, SN1 4JU
| The Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton, WV2 1BT
* Correspondence should be sent to Mr M. J. Hudson.
Received December 19, 1990
Accepted April 30, 1991
The rectal mucosa-associated flora (MAF) of patients with ulcerative colitis has been studied in 25 patients with newly diagnosed disease, 20 with relapse of existing disease, and 44 who were in remission. Patients with active disease were re-examined twice during treatment. The MAF was simpler and less dense than the microflora of faeces. Obligate anaerobes usually predominated in the MAF although the ratio of obligate anaerobes to facultative species was lower than that found in faeces. Viable counts of the total flora and of its constituent genera varied considerably between patients. Counts of the total flora, of obligate anaerobes (including bifidobacteria, eubacteria and clostridia), and facultative organisms and micro-aerobes (enterobacteria and lactobacilli) were reduced in patients with active disease compared with those with inactive disease; corresponding carriage rates were also lower. Counts and carriage rates increased during treatment and approached those found in quiescent disease. The alterations in the MAF were especially marked in patients experiencing their first attack of ulcerative colitis. The relationship between these alterations and the aetiology and pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear.