Pediatria pre prax 4/2011

Intestinal microflora in early infancy and its role in the course of infectious and allergic diseases

Microbiota represent a complex ecosystem with enormous microbial diversity. The gastrointestinal tract of a new born infant is sterile. Soon after birth it is colonized by numerous types of microorganisms. The gut flora is quantitatively the most important source of microbial stimulations and provides a primary signal for driving the postnatal maturation of the immune system. Over the past years, differences have been documented in the composition of the intestinal microflora between healthy infants in countries with a low and high prevalence of allergy. In developed countries slow colonization of the intestine with enterobacteria may reduce exposure to lipopolysaccharides. Microbial deprivation could be overcome by probiotics which may modify the immune development. Therapeutic or preventive effects of certain probiotics on infectious and inflammatory diseases in children are documented.

Keywords: intestinal microflora, mucosal immune system, GALT, newborn, probiotics, allergy, infection.