Stool Studies

We decided to do a Stool Test, used by many complimentary/functional/alternative medicine doctors.  We tested for microbiology and yeast growth.  There are more comprehensive tests available but for now, opted to do the least expensive one with the information we need most right now- microbe analysis of gut flora.  

We get the results just in time, just in time for his fevers following change in probiotics and adding coconut (natural antifungal), just in time for antibiotics....his results read that he produces good amounts of bifidobacterium (thank you breast milk) and escherichia coli (E.Coli is a "good" and "bad" microbe, like yeast and others); but that he has NO growth of Lactobacillus species. None.

They then also test for "Additional Bacteria"- bacteria that could be potentially pathogenic ("bad" gut bacteria).  He has much growth here- it would appear he has much more population of "bad" bacteria than of "good"; but the chart notes that only one is "potential pathogenic"....enterobacter cloacae.  The others are listed as "non-pathogen".  In addition, he produces high amounts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae microbes, which are a yeast bacteria but no other growth of yeast are present.   

The commentary/analysis reads: "Sufficient amounts of Bifidobacteria and E. coli appear to be present in the stool, however Lactobacilli is below optimal levels. Ample amounts of E. coli have been associated with a balanced gut flora. The "friendly bacteria", Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, are important for gastrointestinal function, as they are involved in vitamin synthesis, natural antibiotic production, immune defense, digestion, and detoxification of pro-carcinogens and a host of other activities.
Ideally, levels of Lactobacillus and E. coli should be 2+ or greater. Bifidobacteria being a predominate anaerobe should be recovered at levels of 4+."

The tests also give indications to determine which antibiotic sensitivity and resistance at standard dosages.  It goes on to note that prudent usage of antibiotics requires knowledge of levels of those agents, so the tests show what antibiotics will be more likely to inhibit growth of the pathogen identified (enterobacter cloacae and yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae).    Antibiotics kill off all microflora but "good" gut bugs are more susceptible and are killed in larger numbers, thus allowing "bad" gut flora to overgrow; and thus dysbiosis results.   Diet, environment, anti-fungal medications, probiotics will all help to control and correct this dysbiosis but knowing which antibiotics will cause less growth of the pathogen will be helpful.  It also goes on to illustrate which natural substances can help keep this pathogen from overgrowth, such as Berberine, Oregano, Plant Tannins, and Uva-Ursi, Garlic, etc.    

The chart notes "Human microflora is influenced by environmental factors and the competitive ecosystem of the organisms in the GI tract. Pathogenic significance should be based upon clinical symptoms and reproducibility of bacterial recovery". Their disclaimer is one of evidence-based medicine argument against the reliability of these tests.

It reminds me it is a tool. But, like with so many other tests (of IgE/typical included) of allergies, are all tools. The true test is in how each body responds. It is Janice Vickerstaff Joneja that explains that well, on her website Allergy Nutrition..."what is most surprising to many people is to hear that food does not cause allergy or intolerance – in fact food is incapable of causing disease! Food is not like a bacterium or a virus that can cause infection; and food is not like a cancer cell that can multiply unchecked and cause havoc in the body. It is the body’s own response to the food, a component of the food, or something added to a food product during it’s manufacture, that causes disease".   How do we change the body's response? From the inside out. We heal what is "broken". In Little Man, clearly his gut flora is causing serious complications.