Table 1.

Bacteria commonly found on the surfaces of

the human body.
BACTERIUM Skin
Con-
junc
-
tiva
Nose Pharynx Mouth
Low
er
!I
Ant"
ure-
thra
#a$ina
Staphylococcus epidermidis
%&'
(( ( (( (( (( ( (( ((
Staphylococcus aureus* %)' ( (*- ( ( ( (( (*- (
Streptococcus mitis ( (( (*- ( (
Streptococcus salivarius (( ((
Streptococcus mutans* %+' ( ((
Enterococcus faecalis* %,' (*- ( (( ( (
Streptococcus pneumoniae*
%-'
(*- (*- ( ( (*-
Streptococcus pyogenes* %.' (*- (*- ( ( (*- (*-
Neisseria sp. %/' ( ( (( ( ( (
Neisseria meningitidis* %0' ( (( ( (
Enterobacteriaceae*(Escheri
chia coli) %1'
(*- (*- (*- ( (( ( (
Proteus sp. (*- ( ( ( ( ( (
Pseudomonas aeruginosa*
%&2'
(*- (*- ( (*-
Haemophilus influenzae*
%&&'
(*- ( ( (
acteroides sp.* (( ( (*-
ifidobacterium bifidum %&)' ((
!actobacillus sp. %&+' ( (( (( ((
"lostridium sp.* %&,' (*- ((
"lostridium tetani %&-' (*-
Coryne3acteria %&.' (( ( (( ( ( ( ( (
Myco3acteria ( (*- (*- ( (
Actino4ycetes ( (
S5irochetes ( (( ((
Myco56as4as ( ( ( (*- (
++ = nearly 100 percent + = common (about 25
percent) +/ = rare (less than 5!) " =
potential patho#en
Table 1 $otes
(1) The staphylococci and corynebacteria occur at e%ery site listed. Staphylococcus
epidermidis is hi#hly adapted to the di%erse en%ironments of its human host. S. aureus is a
potential patho#en. &t is a leadin# cause of bacterial disease in humans. &t can be
transmitted from the nasal membranes of an asymptomatic carrier to a susceptible host.
S. epidermidis. 'cannin# (). *+*.
(2) )any of the normal flora are either patho#ens or opportunistic patho#ens, The asteris-s
indicate members of the normal flora a that may be considered ma.or patho#ens of humans.
S. aureus. /ram stain.
(0) Streptococcus mutans is the primary bacterium in%ol%ed in pla1ue formation and
initiation of dental caries. 2ie3ed as an opportunistic infection, dental disease is one of the
most pre%alent and costly infectious diseases in the 4nited 'tates.
Streptococcus mutans. /ram stain. *+*
(5) Enterococcus faecalis 3as formerly classified as Streptococcus faecalis. The bacterium is
such a re#ular a component of the intestinal flora, that many (uropean countries use it as the
standard indicator of fecal pollution, in the same 3ay 3e use E. coli in the 4.'. &n recent
years, Enterococcus faecalis has emer#ed as a si#nificant, antibioticresistant, nosocomial
patho#en.
2ancomycin 6esistant Enterococcus faecalis. 'cannin# (.). *+*
(5) Streptococcus pneumoniae is present in the upper respiratory tract of about half the
population. &f it in%ades the lo3er respiratory tract it can cause pneumonia. Streptococcus
pneumoniae causes 75 percent of all bacterial pneumonia.
Streptococcus pneumoniae. +irect fluorescent antibody stain. *+*.
(8) Streptococcus pyogenes refers to the /roup 9, Betahemolytic streptococci. 'treptococci
cause tonsillitis (strep throat), pneumonia, endocarditis. 'ome streptococcal diseases can
lead to rheumatic fe%er or nephritis 3hich can dama#e the heart and -idney.
Streptococcus pyogenes. /ram stain.
(:) Neisseria and other /ramne#ati%e cocci are fre1uent inhabitants of the upper
respiratory tract, mainly the pharyn;. Neisseria meningitidis, an important cause of bacterial
menin#itis, can coloni<e as 3ell, until the host can de%elop acti%e immunity a#ainst the
patho#en.
Neisseria meningitidis. /ram stain.
(=) >hile E. coli is a consistent resident of the small intestine, many other enteric bacteria
may reside here as 3ell, includin# Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter. 'ome strains of
E. coli are patho#ens that cause intestinal infections, urinary tract infections and neonatal
menin#itis.
E. coli. 'cannin# (.). 'hirley ?3ens. *enter for (lectron ?ptics. )ichi#an 'tate 4ni%ersity.
(7) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the 1uintessential opportunistic patho#en of humans that
can in%ade %irtually any tissue. &t is a leadin# cause of hospitalac1uired (nosocomial) /ram
ne#ati%e infections, but its source is often e;o#enous (from outside the host).
*olonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa #ro3in# on an a#ar plate. The most %irulent
@seudomonas species produce mucoid colonies and #reen pi#ments such as this isolate.
(10) Haemophilus influenzae is a fre1uent secondary in%ader to %iral influen<a, and 3as
named accordin#ly. The bacterium 3as the leadin# cause of menin#itis in infants and
children until the recent de%elopment of the Aflu type B %accine.
Haemophilus influenzae. /ram stain.
(11) The #reatest number of bacteria are found in the lo3er intestinal tract, specifically the
colon and the most pre%alent bacteria are the Bacteroides, a #roup of /ramne#ati%e,
anaerobic, nonsporeformin# bacteria. They ha%e been implicated in the initiation colitis and
colon cancer.
Bacteroides fragilis. /ram stain.
(12) Bifidobacteria are /rampositi%e, nonsporeformin#, lactic acid bacteria. They ha%e been
described as BfriendlyB bacteria in the intestine of humans. Bifidobacterium bifidum is the
predominant bacterial species in the intestine of breastfed infants, 3here it presumably
pre%ents coloni<ation by potential patho#ens. These bacteria are sometimes used in the
manufacture of yo#urts and are fre1uently incorporated into probiotics.
Bifidobacterium bifidum. /ram stain
(10) Cactobacilli in the oral ca%ity probably contribute to acid formation that leads to dental
caries. actobacillus acidophilus coloni<es the %a#inal epithelium durin# childbearin# years
and establishes the lo3 pA that inhibits the #ro3th of patho#ens.
actobacillus species and a %a#inal s1uaemous epithelial cell. *+*
(15) There are numerous species of Clostridium that coloni<e the bo3el. Clostridium
perfringens is commonly isolated from feces. Clostridium difficile may coloni<e the bo3el and
cause Bantibioticinduced diarrheaB or pseudomembranous colitis.
Clostridium perfringens. /ram stain.
(15) Clostridium tetani is included in the table as an e;ample of a bacterium that is
Btransiently associatedB 3ith humans as a component of the normal flora. The bacterium can
be isolated from feces in 0 25 percent of the population. The endospores are probably
in#ested 3ith food and 3ater, and the bacterium does not coloni<e the intestine.
Clostridium tetani. /ram stain.
(18) The corynebacteria, and certain related propionic acid bacteria, are consistent s-in
flora. 'ome ha%e been implicated as a cause of acne. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the
a#ent of diphtheria, 3as considered a member of the normal flora before the 3idespread use
of the diphtheria to;oid, 3hich is used to immuni<e a#ainst the disease.
Corynebacterium diphtheriae. $o lon#er a part of the normal flora.
(1) The staphylococci and corynebacteria occur at e%ery site listed. Staphylococcus
epidermidis is hi#hly adapted to the di%erse en%ironments of its human host. S. aureus is a
potential patho#en. &t is a leadin# cause of bacterial disease in humans. &t can be
transmitted from the nasal membranes of an asymptomatic carrier to a susceptible host.
S. epidermidis. 'cannin# (). *+*.
(2) )any of the normal flora are either patho#ens or opportunistic patho#ens, The asteris-s
indicate members of the normal flora a that may be considered ma.or patho#ens of humans.
S. aureus. /ram stain.
(0) Streptococcus mutans is the primary bacterium in%ol%ed in pla1ue formation and
initiation of dental caries. 2ie3ed as an opportunistic infection, dental disease is one of the
most pre%alent and costly infectious diseases in the 4nited 'tates.
Streptococcus mutans. /ram stain. *+*
(5) Enterococcus faecalis 3as formerly classified as Streptococcus faecalis. The bacterium is
such a re#ular a component of the intestinal flora, that many (uropean countries use it as the
standard indicator of fecal pollution, in the same 3ay 3e use E. coli in the 4.'. &n recent
years, Enterococcus faecalis has emer#ed as a si#nificant, antibioticresistant, nosocomial
patho#en.
2ancomycin 6esistant Enterococcus faecalis. 'cannin# (.). *+*
(5) Streptococcus pneumoniae is present in the upper respiratory tract of about half the
population. &f it in%ades the lo3er respiratory tract it can cause pneumonia. Streptococcus
pneumoniae causes 75 percent of all bacterial pneumonia.
Streptococcus pneumoniae. +irect fluorescent antibody stain. *+*.
(8) Streptococcus pyogenes refers to the /roup 9, Betahemolytic streptococci. 'treptococci
cause tonsillitis (strep throat), pneumonia, endocarditis. 'ome streptococcal diseases can
lead to rheumatic fe%er or nephritis 3hich can dama#e the heart and -idney.
Streptococcus pyogenes. /ram stain.
(:) Neisseria and other /ramne#ati%e cocci are fre1uent inhabitants of the upper
respiratory tract, mainly the pharyn;. Neisseria meningitidis, an important cause of bacterial
menin#itis, can coloni<e as 3ell, until the host can de%elop acti%e immunity a#ainst the
patho#en.
Neisseria meningitidis. /ram stain.
(=) >hile E. coli is a consistent resident of the small intestine, many other enteric bacteria
may reside here as 3ell, includin# Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter. 'ome strains of
E. coli are patho#ens that cause intestinal infections, urinary tract infections and neonatal
menin#itis.
E. coli. 'cannin# (.). 'hirley ?3ens. *enter for (lectron ?ptics. )ichi#an 'tate 4ni%ersity.
(7) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the 1uintessential opportunistic patho#en of humans that
can in%ade %irtually any tissue. &t is a leadin# cause of hospitalac1uired (nosocomial) /ram
ne#ati%e infections, but its source is often e;o#enous (from outside the host).
*olonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa #ro3in# on an a#ar plate. The most %irulent
@seudomonas species produce mucoid colonies and #reen pi#ments such as this isolate.
(10) Haemophilus influenzae is a fre1uent secondary in%ader to %iral influen<a, and 3as
named accordin#ly. The bacterium 3as the leadin# cause of menin#itis in infants and
children until the recent de%elopment of the Aflu type B %accine.
Haemophilus influenzae. /ram stain.
(11) The #reatest number of bacteria are found in the lo3er intestinal tract, specifically the
colon and the most pre%alent bacteria are the Bacteroides, a #roup of /ramne#ati%e,
anaerobic, nonsporeformin# bacteria. They ha%e been implicated in the initiation colitis and
colon cancer.
Bacteroides fragilis. /ram stain.
(12) Bifidobacteria are /rampositi%e, nonsporeformin#, lactic acid bacteria. They ha%e been
described as BfriendlyB bacteria in the intestine of humans. Bifidobacterium bifidum is the
predominant bacterial species in the intestine of breastfed infants, 3here it presumably
pre%ents coloni<ation by potential patho#ens. These bacteria are sometimes used in the
manufacture of yo#urts and are fre1uently incorporated into probiotics.
Bifidobacterium bifidum. /ram stain
(10) Cactobacilli in the oral ca%ity probably contribute to acid formation that leads to dental
caries. actobacillus acidophilus coloni<es the %a#inal epithelium durin# childbearin# years
and establishes the lo3 pA that inhibits the #ro3th of patho#ens.
actobacillus species and a %a#inal s1uaemous epithelial cell. *+*
(15) There are numerous species of Clostridium that coloni<e the bo3el. Clostridium
perfringens is commonly isolated from feces. Clostridium difficile may coloni<e the bo3el and
cause Bantibioticinduced diarrheaB or pseudomembranous colitis.
Clostridium perfringens. /ram stain. (15) Clostridium tetani is included in the table as
an example of a bacterium that is "transiently associated" with humans as a
component of the normal flora. The bacterium can be isolated from feces in 0 - 25
percent of the population. The endospores are probably inested with food and
water! and the bacterium does not coloni"e the intestine.
Clostridium tetani. #ram stain. (1$) The corynebacteria! and certain related
propionic acid bacteria! are consistent s%in flora. &ome ha'e been implicated as a
cause of acne. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the aent of diphtheria! was
considered a member of the normal flora before the widespread use of the
diphtheria toxoid! which is used to immuni"e aainst the disease.
Corynebacterium diphtheriae. (o loner a part of the normal flora.