[Antagonistic properties of bacterial flora in the mouth and throat of children].

The research concerned the antagonistic activity of oral and pharyngeal bacterial flora in 44 children, of both sexes, aged 4-15. These properties were estimated basing upon in vitro inhibition of the growth of the standard indicator strains Staphylococcus aureus 209P and Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteria, both aerobic as well as anaerobic, inhibiting the growth of S. aureus 209P were found in every sample. The median percentages of bacteria showing these properties were not significantly different in both environments and they ranged from 25% to 33%. The antagonistic activity of oral and pharyngeal bacterial flora against the indicator strain E. coli K-12 was significantly lower when compared with the activity against the staphylococcal strain.