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NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Newborns and E. Coli 
Name: Warren Y.
Status: Educator
Age: 50s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: March 2004
Question:
How does a newborn, who is presumably born bacteria free, get E.coli into his or her alimentary tract?


Replies:
The minute the amniotic sac breaks, bacteria starts to be taken up by the baby. It passes through the birth canal which probably has coliforms in it and the environment and food also is not sterile. It takes a while, but from the minute of birth, the baby is establishing its own normal flora.

vanhoeck

Ingestion in food and drink.

Peter Faletra


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