Question about intestinal bacteria in babies

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Katinka - 15 Apr 2004 12:43 GMT

Hello,

Could anyone explain to me on what way babies acquire symbiontic
bacteria, living in the large intestines? I pressume this process
doesn't take place through the placenta, but please feel free to
correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,

Katinka

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Ecoli - 15 Apr 2004 16:37 GMT

When born, babies have a sterile gastro-intestinal tract.
They take up those bacteria with what they eat.

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Katinka

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John Gentile - 16 Apr 2004 02:37 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Katinka

It's the usual fecal - oral route. Intestinal organisms are spread all over
the environment and the baby will ingest things and build up the normal
flora. You really can't (and shouldn't) try to keep the baby in a sterile
environment. Things get tracked into a clean house on shoes, blown in on the
wind, bacteria fall off our bodies all the time. We live in the bacteria's
world.

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John Gentile Editor, Rhode Island Apple Group
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axiombiologicals@cyber-rights.net - 20 Apr 2004 04:53 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Katinka

Some bacteria will be picked up in route through the birth canal.
After this, it will be from the parents, since they will be constantly
handling the child, it's food and toys, and the environment. Breast
feeding will provide flora from the skin of the mother into the GI of
the child.

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Natural Science Forum / Biology / Microbiology / April 2004

Question about intestinal bacteria in babies