Comparison of the effects of hospitalization and antibiotic usage on the aerobic intestinal flora

Antimicrobial resistance among bacteria has arisen ever since antimicrobial agents mere introduced in the clinic. Unfortunately it seems that resistan ce is now emerging at a more rapid rate than ever before, as a consequence of the widespread use bf antimicrobial agents. The spread of these multires istant microorganisms is an increasing threat in many countries. The human intestinal flora is a huge potential reservoir of resistant microorganisms. Antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates may cause serious infections and treatment failure, and lead to the use of higher doses or more toxic a lternative drugs. This study was planned so as to compare the effects of ho spitalization and antibiotic usage on the aerobic intestinal flora and incl uded 43 hospitalized adult patients without any previous history of hospita lization and antibiotic usage during the last 30 d, Patients were divided a ccording to their antimicrobial therapy, into treated and untreated groups. The individual use of antimicrobials was recorded. Antibiotic usage was fo und to be more effective on the aerobic intestinal flora compared with hosp italization without such medication.