Intestines: constant tug of war
going on between these good and bad life forms
Imagine a parking lot. There are a limited number of "parking spaces" and once
they are full there isn't room for any more cars. The same goes for the bacteria
in the gut. This competitive colonization means an ongoing battle for the
bacteria to survive. The intestinal microflora is a complex ecosystem containing
over 400 bacterial species
The imbalance of the "good" and "bad" bowel flora results in disease.
Antibiotics decrease the incidence of sickness and death due to infections but
alter the balance of bowel flora. The current challenge is to minimize the
deleterious effects of antibiotics while maximizing their beneficial impact. A
combination of probiotic and prebiotic therapy may provide an alternative to
antibiotic treatments for intestinal ailments in the not too distant future.