Effect of Reduction of Bowel Flora on Experimental Staphylococcal Infection in Mice.

Abstract

When the normal flora of the intestinal tract of mice is reduced by the use of 0.1% neomycin in the diet the animals are more susceptible to intravenous challenge with hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus. This is manifest by decreased survival rate and by higher staphylococcal populations in the kidneys of the neomycin prepared mice. It is postulated that the gram negative organisms in the bowel play some role in maintaining host defense against infection.