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Cited by 393Sepsis Diagnosis and TreatmentAbdominal Surgery and ComplicationsAbdominal vascular conditions and treatments

Microbiology of bacterial translocation in humans

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O’Boyle, C J, MacFie, J, Mitchell, C J, Johnstone, D, Sagar, P M, Sedman, P C·1998·Gut
DOI 10.1136/gut.42.1.29PMC PMC1726947
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gut translocation of bacteria has been shown in both animal and human studies. Evidence from animal studies that links bacteria translocation to the development of postoperative sepsis and multiple organ failure has yet to be confirmed in humans. AIMS: To examine the spectrum of bacteria involved in translocation in surgical patients undergoing laparotomy and to determine the relation between nodal migration of bacteria and the development of postoperative septic complications. METHODS: Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), serosal scrapings, and peripheral blood from 448 surgical patients undergoing laparotomy were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. RESULTS: Bacterial translocation was identified in 69 patients (15.4%). The most common organism identified was Escherichia coli (54%). Both enteric bacteria, typical of indigenous intestinal flora, and non-enteric bacteria were isolated. Postoperative septic complications developed in 104 patients (23%). Enteric organisms were responsible in 74% of patients. Forty one per cent of patients who had evidence of bacterial translocation developed sepsis compared with 14% in whom no organisms were cultured (p < 0.001). Septic morbidity was more frequent when a greater diversity of bacteria resided within the MLN, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Bacterial translocation is associated with a significant increase in the development of postoperative sepsis in surgical patients. The organisms responsible for septic morbidity are similar in spectrum to those observed in the mesenteric lymph nodes. These data strongly support the gut origin hypothesis of sepsis in humans.

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  • 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 [10]

  • 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 [10]

  • In clinical studies of critically ill high-risk surgical patients and in animal studies of shock, bacteria have been cultured from the mesenteric lymph nodes.

    “In clinical studies of critically ill high-risk surgical patients and in animal studies of shock, bacteria have been cultured from the mesenteric lymph nodes.”

    From The microbiome and critical illness (2016) · cites this paper as [10]

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1 of the 37 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Yao Y, Bahrami S, Leichtfried G, Redhl H, Schlag G. Patho- genesis of haemorrhage-induced bacteria/endotoxin trans- location in rats. EVects of recombinant bactericidal/ permeability-increasing protein. Ann Surg 1995;221:398- 405.
  2. Guzman-Stein G, Bonsack M, Liberty J, Delaney JP, Wells CW. Intestinal handling facilitates enteric bacterial translo- cation. Surg Forum 1987;38:75-6.
  3. Owens WE, Berg RD. Bacterial translocation from the gas- trointestinal tract of thymectomized mice. Curr Microbiol 1982;7:169-74.
  4. Berg RD. Bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract of mice receiving immunosuppresive chemotherapeu- tic agents. Curr Microbiol 1983;8:285-92.
  5. Penn RL, Maca RD, Berg RD. Leukaemia promotes the translocation of indigenous bacteria from the gastrointesti- nal tract to the mesenteric lymph nodes and other organs. Microecology Therapy 1985;15:85-91.
  6. O'Boyle CJ, Murchan P, Dave K, Mitchell CJ, MacFie J. Bacterial colonization of the upper gastrointestinal tract is associated with septic morbidity in surgical patients [abstract]. Gut 1996;38:A68.

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Authors
O’Boyle, C. J., MacFie, J., Mitchell, C. J., Johnstone, D., Sagar, P. M., & Sedman, P. C.
Affiliations
  • Combined Gastroenterology Service, Scarborough Hospital, Scalby Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK
  • Scarborough General Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
MacFie, J
ORCID
Venue
Gut
Publisher
BMJ
Published
1998-01-01
Volume
42
Issue
1
Pages
29-35
ISSN
  • 0017-5749 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-3288
DOI
10.1136/gut.42.1.29
PMC
PMC1726947
OpenAlex
W2116727622
Cited by
393
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 9
FWCI
13.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Gut (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Abdominal Surgery and Complications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Abdominal vascular conditions and treatments
Keywords
bacterial translocation, postoperative sepsis, mesenteric lymph nodes, Escherichia coli, laparotomy, surgical patients, bacterial diversity, enteric bacteria, multiple organ failure
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bacterial Infections, Bacteriological Techniques, Escherichia coli, Female, Humans, Laparotomy, Lymph Nodes, Male, Middle Aged, Postoperative Complications, Prevalence, Bacterial Translocation

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