Journal of medical microbiology
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Comparative Study
Bacterial flora of the jejunum: a comparison of luminal aspirate and mucosal biopsy.
The aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora grown from 40 human jejunal aspirates were compared with the flora grown from an intestinal mucosal biopsy obtained simultaneously from the same level. In four paired samples the flora was identical; in nine the flora differed by only one organism. ⋯ In one pair the jejunal aspirate grew organisms, but there was no growth from the biopsy. It is apparent that for adequate bacteriological study of the intestine, the flora at both sites should be investigated.