The Effect of Surgical Manipulation on the Bacterial Translocation from the Gut

Kim, Chong Suk; Jeon, Hoon Bae; Ryu, Jin Woo; Kim, Kwang Ho; Koo, Bum Whan

Abstract

The bacterial translocation is defined as the passage of viable bacteria or its toxin from the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract through the intestinal mucosa to other site of host. It is believed that bacterial translocation may lead to systemic infection and septicemia. The purpose of this study was to determine what factors in experimental surgical trauma lead to bacterial translocation. Two-nonth-old Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: A-control; B-anesthesia only and C-anesthesia and surgery. After 24 and 48 hours, caval blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lung and spleen were harvested aseptically and cultured for aerobic organism. To exclude the possibility of contamination during surgical manipulation and harvesting, swab culture of peritoneal surface was performed. The bacterial translocation seldom occurred 24 hours after surgical manipulation. There was a significant increase in the number of animals with bacterial translocation in group C, 48 hours after manipulation and harvesting, swab culture of peritoneal surface was performed. The bacterial translocation seldom occurred 24 hours after surgical manipulation. There was a significant increase in the number of animals with bacterial translocation in group C, 48 hours after surgical manipulation. The majority of translocating bacteria was E. coli.