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Cited by 362Clinical Nutrition and GastroenterologySepsis Diagnosis and TreatmentAbdominal vascular conditions and treatments

The prevalence of gut translocation in humans

Sedman, Peter C, Macfle, John, Sagar, Peter, Mitchell, Charles J, May, John, Mancey-Jones, Ben, Johnstone, Derek·1994·Gastroenterology
DOI 10.1016/0016-5085(94)90110-4
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Abstract

Background/aims Gut translocation of enteric organisms across the intact intestinal mucosa has been postulated as a potential source of sepsis in susceptible patients. However, little is known of its occurrence or significance in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gut translocation of bacteria in humans and attempt to identify any predisposing factors to its occurrence.Methods A consecutive series of 267 general surgical patients were examined for evidence of bacterial translocation by bacterial analysis of intestinal serosa and mesenteric lymph nodes taken at the time of surgery.Results Translocation occurred in 10.3% of patients overall. Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria translocated. Excluding patients with distal intestinal obstruction and those with inflammatory bowel disease in whom translocation was more common, the prevalence was 5%. Neither jaundice, nutritional status, nor total parenteral nutrition predisposed to translocation. Similarly, mucosal atrophy did not predispose to this phenomenon. The development of postoperative septic complications was twice as common in patients with translocation as in those without, but mortality was unaffected.Conclusions Translocation occurs as a spontaneous event in humans, but its clinical significance remains to be defined.

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  • In animals including humans, bacteria regularly cross barriers in the skin, mouth, gut, lungs, and other mucosal surfaces due to routine damage and intrinsic leakiness.

    “In animals (including humans), bacteria regularly cross barriers in the skin, mouth, gut, lungs, and other mucosal surfaces due to routine damage and intrinsic leakiness ( 13, 14 ); mirror bacteria would be expected to do the same.”

    From Confronting risks of mirror life (2024) · cites this paper as [13]

  • Substantial clinical and experimental evidence supports the gut-lymph hypothesis.

    “Substantial clinical and experimental evidence supports the gut-lymph hypothesis.”

    From The microbiome and critical illness (2016) · cites this paper as [103]

  • Detection of bacteria in mesenteric lymph is predictive of subsequent sepsis and infectious complications.

    “detection of bacteria in mesenteric lymph is predictive of subsequent sepsis and infectious complications.”

    From The microbiome and critical illness (2016) · cites this paper as [103]

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Authors
Sedman, P. C., Macfle, J., Sagar, P., Mitchell, C. J., May, J., Mancey-Jones, B., & Johnstone, D.
Affiliations
Scarborough General Hospital (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Gastroenterology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1994-09
Volume
107
Issue
3
Pages
643-649
ISSN
0016-5085 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0016-5085(94)90110-4
OpenAlex
W2081580608
Cited by
362
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 4
FWCI
24.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Gastroenterology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Abdominal vascular conditions and treatments
Keywords
bacterial translocation, gut translocation, prevalence, sepsis, mesenteric lymph nodes, general surgical patients, postoperative septic complications, anaerobic bacteria, aerobic bacteria, predisposing factors, inflammatory bowel disease, mucosal atrophy, total parenteral nutrition
MeSH terms
Bacterial Infections, Cell Movement, Humans, Intestines, Lymph Nodes, Mesentery, Postoperative Complications, Serous Membrane, Incidence, Bacterial Physiological Phenomena

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