Effects of antibiotherapy on microbial intestinal ecosystem (MIE) in newborns (NB) and children (Ch)

The digestive tract is sterile at birth [16, 20, 21]. In a few days bacterial concentrations are nearly those observed in older children and adults. The stability of mie is remarkable, whatever the age. The organisms forming the intestinal floral continually exert forces to maintain an inter-species equilibrium. The practical effect is the exclusion of non-indigenous organisms, including pathogens [12]. Disturbances of mie induced by antibiotics lead to pullulation of a bacterial species which can be, by translocation, responsible for an acquired septicemia [10,18].