RT Journal
A1 Deitch EA
T1 SImple intestinal obstruction causes bacterial translocation in man
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 1989
FD June 1
VO 124
IS 6
SP 699
OP 701
DO 10.1001/archsurg.1989.01410060065013
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1989.01410060065013
AB • Indirect clinical evidence has accumulated indicating that the gut may be a reservoir for microorganisms causing systemic infection in man. Our experimental results, in a variety of animal models, demonstrate that bacteria can translocate across the mucosal barrier and cause systemic infections. To determine directly whether bacterial translocation occurs in man, we cultured mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) obtained at laparotomy from 42 patients, none of whom were clinically infected. Ten (59%) of 17 patients with intestinal obstruction (none of whom had necrotic bowel) had bacteria in their MLNs, in contrast to one (4%) of 25 patients operated on for other reasons. The most common bacteria cultured from the MLNs was Escherichia coli. Thus, it appeared that simple intestinal obstruction of the colon or small bowel in the absence of necrotic bowel was associated with bacterial translocation.(Arch Surg 1989;124:699-701)