Sowing feces for dysbiosis

Dysbacteriosis develops as a result of pathological processes occurring in the body. Due to the absence of certain symptoms characteristic specifically for this disease, it can only be recognized by analyzes. Signs of a violation of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract resemble other diseases. In some patients, dysbiosis is present latently, without manifesting itself as symptoms. A laboratory study will help identify the presence of an imbalance in the functioning of the intestines.

The task of the patient, who does the culture of feces for dysbiosis, is the correct preparation for the test. The results of the work of laboratory assistants depend on this, so the procedure must be approached responsibly.

Description of dysbiosis

The small intestine absorbs nutrients, carries out cavity and parietal digestion. Another important organ is the large intestine, a distinctive feature of which is that all kinds of microorganisms live in it.

A healthy person has no pathological changes: his intestinal microflora is in a stable state and functions in a calm mode. When a disease occurs that affects the intestines, the microflora loses its balance and provokes dysbiosis.

The bacteria that live in the body are in symbiosis with humans. They receive food from it for functioning, and the owner is given vitamins synthesized due to opportunistic flora. Also, bacteria are involved in the processing of food, for which the fermentation process is used.

Reference!Quantitative microflora is an important element in the functioning of the stomach and intestines. About 90% of the flora is lacto- and bifidobacteria. The rest is bacteroids, fungi, staphylococci and other microorganisms.

Signs of dysbiosis

The main manifestations of the disease are flatulence, bloating, loose stools, nausea and vomiting. If the disease is not treated, metabolic processes are disrupted. Then brittle hair and nails, dry skin, cramps, muscle weakness are added to the symptoms.

In the early stages, the patient cannot independently determine the violation of the microflora, since his stool remains unchanged. As the disease progresses, streaks of blood, diarrhea, mucus appear in the feces. The smell during bowel movements becomes unpleasant, putrid.

Newborn children often suffer from dysbiosis. In infants, the microflora is disturbed due to the fact that the process of forming colonies of beneficial bacteria did not have time to complete. By one year, most often, dysbiosis in children passes without treatment.

On a note!The color of feces in a healthy person is brown. A change in shade is considered a pathology. Most often, an increase in pathogenic flora leads to a color change.

Types of analyzes

If you suspect dysbiosis, the gastroenterologist prescribes a general or biochemical analysis of feces. Both methods will give a detailed view of the state of the intestinal microflora. The collected material is examined in an equipped laboratory.

After the required period, laboratory technicians count the colonies of bacteria that have developed in a beneficial environment. Stool testing makes it possible to assess the sensitivity of microorganisms to bacteriophages and antibiotics. The check is carried out in two ways.

Bacteriological analysis

Checking the stool for microflora in a standard way is the observation of excrement for several days. During the verification process, laboratory assistants determine the ratio of microorganisms.

The standard method allows you to get results 7-10 days after the analysis is sent to the laboratory. This time is necessary for bacteria to grow and their numbers can be seen under a microscope.

Bacteriological test information is not always accurate due to the following factors:

1. When collected from feces, contact with air occurs, which leads to the death of anaerobic microorganisms. As a result, the amount of harmful and useful flora is calculated incorrectly.
2. The composition of the general microflora should include mucosal bacteria that live on the intestinal mucosa. This element does not enter the bacteriological analysis of feces.
3. Accurate diagnosis reduces the time it takes to transport stool to the laboratory. Part of the microbial flora perishes during transportation.

Attention! It is not allowed to collect material for analysis if defecation was performed as a result of taking laxatives.

Video - Study of feces for dysbiosis

Biochemical analysis

This research method is more accurate and provides complete information about the state of the intestinal flora. Due to the speed of the check-up, the patient is quickly assigned the appropriate treatment, without wasting time and aggravating the situation. Information can be obtained within a couple of hours after transferring the material to laboratory assistants. Feces intended for biochemical testing can be frozen and handed over at any time.

The principle of biochemical analysis is as follows: all bacteria in the course of their vital activity produce fatty acids. Many of them can be formed by only one type of microorganism. Having determined the type of acids, it can be concluded that there are microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as which department is inhabited by pathogenic flora.

An additional advantage of the method, in addition to the speed of obtaining results, is the complete identification of all types of microorganisms, including those that are based near the walls of the organ.

What information is obtained from the analysis?

In laboratory conditions, the composition of feces is assessed by the content of beneficial and pathogenic and opportunistic organisms. Due to various factors, the flora loses the necessary bacteria, and the volume of pathogenic flora increases in it.

Analysis is necessary for the following symptoms:

• diarrhea, constipation;
• flatulence;
• discomfort or pain in the abdomen;
• intolerance to some products;
• intestinal infection;
• allergy;
• skin rash;
• violation of intestinal biocenosis;
• long therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Stool culture is often prescribed for newborns at risk and adolescents with regular allergies and SARS.

In addition to having symptoms, a doctor may refer a patient for analysis for many reasons:

• rickets, anemia in children;
• the consequences of an intestinal infection, which was accompanied by diarrhea with blood;
• hormone therapy;
• weak immune system;
• taking antibiotics.

Also, newborns whose mothers have mastitis or vaginitis and babies whose stay in the maternity hospital has exceeded certain norms is sent for analysis.

A referral for research is issued by a gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist or therapist. The patient is required to collect material correctly in order to obtain reliable results.

How to prepare for the study

For the analysis, you will need fresh stool collected before taking chemotherapy or antibacterial drugs. In a few days, you will need to remove the intake of pills with a laxative effect, as well as vaseline and castor oil, stop the introduction of suppositories. Material obtained after barium or enema is unsuitable for testing.

To collect the analysis, you must first urinate and then defecate. In this case, you need to ensure that urine does not get into the feces. The container into which defecation will be carried out must be treated with a disinfectant or rinsed with boiling water.

The material is placed in a new disposable container with a tight-fitting lid. For collection, use the spoon that comes with the kit. You need to fill the container no more than one third of its volume (approximately 10 ml).

Attention! It is forbidden to collect feces from the toilet. So foreign microorganisms from the environment can get into it.

From the moment of taking the feces to transfer to the laboratory, no more than three hours should pass. All this time, the material must be kept cold. Do this using ice or a special bag.

Be sure to follow the rules:

• long-term storage of feces (over 5 hours) is not allowed;
• freezing is not allowed;
• the filled container must be tightly closed;
• the collected feces cannot be checked the day before.

On a note!The interpretation of the results is carried out by a gastroenterologist, taking into account the existing norms, the history of the disease, the patient's age, symptoms and disposing factors.

Analysis results

A specialist should decipher the analysis indicators. An analysis for dysbiosis with normal values ​​looks like this:

Table 1. Normal indicators of material for dysbiosis

Bacteria type	Normal value
Typical	10v7 - 10v8
Proteus	<10vo2
Lactose	<10in5
Enterococci	10in5 - 8
Saprophytic	10in4
Hemolytic	Not detected
Clostridia	<10in5
Non-fermenting	10in4
Staphylococci	Not detected
Conditionally pathogenic	<10in4
Lactobacillus	10v7 - 8
Bifidobacteria	10in9 - 10
Yeast mushrooms	<10v3
Bacteroids	<10v7

Recognition of values ​​is a significant procedure in making a diagnosis. The specialist carefully examines the indicators in order to prescribe the appropriate treatment. If, during sowing, the number of positive bacteria is within normal values, but the symptoms do not go away, you need to repeat the analysis. With the biochemical method of research, the indicators are more accurate.

Intestinal dysbiosis is a serious condition that requires treatment. The imbalance of microflora is especially dangerous in children, who more than adults need the timely intake of vitamins and microelements. To restore the flora, the patient is prescribed biologically active additives and food products in order to colonize the intestines with the necessary bacteria. With proper therapy, digestion is quickly restored, and unpleasant symptoms disappear.