Objective: To investigate the changes of microbial colonization resistance of the bowel in patients with chronic severe hepatitis.
Methods: The fecal flora bifidobacteria, enterobacteriaceae, enterococci, and yeasts of subjects (chronic severe hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, and healthy volunteers) were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed by Mitsuoka's methods. While the ratio of bifidobacterium to enterobacteriaceae ( B/E ratio ) was calculated.
Results: The number of bifidobacteria and the B/E ratio in chronic severe hepatitis group was significantly deceased compared with that of the control group (P<0.001). The number of enterobacteriaceae and yeasts was significantly increased compared with that of control group (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively).
Conclusions: The results suggest that the intestinal microbial colonization resistance in patients with chronic severe hepatitis is seriously impaired.