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The normal microflora and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis

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Medical Importance of the Normal Microflora

Abstract

Normal gut structure and function is the end-product of a complex set of interactions between the host and the complex microflora that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract. This balanced interaction is subjected both directly and indirectly to environmental influences, such as dietary factors, which can affect gut function directly through effects on the host or indirectly by effects on the gut microflora. In many cases these are an interactive loop of cause and effect whereby changes to the host alter the gut microflora, which in turn influences gut function. The ‘environmental’ factor that is most likely to have a significant direct impact on the gut microflora is antibiotic treatment.

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Authors
  1. S. P. Borriello
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  2. C. Roffe
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Gerald W. Tannock

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Borriello, S.P., Roffe, C. (1999). The normal microflora and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis. In: Tannock, G.W. (eds) Medical Importance of the Normal Microflora. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3021-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3021-0_14

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