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.