%0 Journal Article %A Sykes, P. A. %A Boulter, K. H. %A Schofield, P. F. %T Alterations in small-bowel microflora in acute intestinal obstruction %D 1976 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 9 %N 1 %P 13-22 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00222615-9-1-13 %I Microbiology Society, %X Summary Small-bowel content was examined bacteriologically whilst fresh and after storage for 24, 48, and 72 h in a modified Stuart's medium. There was little alteration in the viable count of individual intestinal organisms. For accurate quantitative analysis, 0.3 ml of intestinal content was enough. Specimens of small-bowel content were obtained by needle aspiration, and a qualitative and quantitative study was made of the microflora of patients with acute intestinal obstruction and of a control group of patients. Results in the control group confirmed the findings of the results of intubation studies by other workers, that a quantitative gradient of aerobic and anaerobic organisms exists from jejunum to distal ileum. In acute small-bowel obstruction and acute large-bowel obstruction there was a loss of the normal gradient and an increase in the absolute numbers of organisms present; this was particularly marked for anaerobic organisms in large-bowel obstruction. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-9-1-13