Abstract
Aim
Bacterial translocation (BT) can be demonstrated by blood and lymph node cultures and also by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of DNA of enteric bacteria. Aiming at investigating BT after gastrointestinal operations we assessed it on two endpoints after ischemia–reperfusion (IR) or sham operation (SO).
Methods
2 groups of 200-g Brown Norway male rats were treated as follows: SO animals (n=12) had laparotomy alone and IR animals (n=12) had successively 15 min clamping of the portal vein and the mesenteric artery. Half the animals in each group were killed on postoperative (p.o.) day 2 the other half on p.o. day 7. Under sterile conditions regional lymph nodes and vena cava and portal vein blood samples were recovered and cultured for aerobes and anaerobes. Escherichia coli β-galactosidase DNA was assessed in blood samples by PCR. The findings in the two groups were compared by means of χ2 tests.
Results
Post-hepatic (peripheral blood) BT was detected by cultures of gram-negative bacteria in 16% and 0% of SO and IR animals, respectively, on p.o. day 2 and in 16% and 50% on p.o. day 7. These differences were not significant (ns). E. coli DNA was found in one SO rat. Pre-hepatic BT (portal blood and/or lymph nodes) of gram-negative bacteria was found in 16% and 33%, respectively, on day 2 and in 16% and 16% on day 7 (ns). However, if gram-positive cultures were taken into account, the figures were 66% and 66% on day 2 and 66% and 83% on day 7 (ns). No anaerobes could be cultured.
Conclusions
(1) BT is frequent in surgically manipulated animals. (2) To limit the assessment of BT to Enterobacteriaceae is probably misleading, since consistent amounts of gram-positive bacteria are found in the pre-hepatic territory. (3) PCR tests limited to E. coli DNA alone are likely incomplete. (4) Short periods of vascular clamping do not increase BT on the two endpoints selected in comparison with SO animals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sedman PC, Macfie J, Sagar P, Mitchell CJ, May J, Mancey-Jones B, Johnstone D (1994) The prevalence of gut translocation in humans. Gastroenterology 107:643–649
Deitch EA, Xu D, Naruhn MB, Deitch DC, Lu Q, Marino AA (1995) Elemental diet and IV-TPN-induced bacterial translocation is associated with loss of intestinal mucosal barrier function against bacteria. Ann Surg 221:299–307
Asensio AB, Garcia-Urkia N, Aldazabal P, Bachiller P, Garcia-Arenzana JM, Eizaguirre I (2003) [Incidence of bacterial translocation in four different models of experimental short bowel syndrome]. Cir Pediatr 16:20–25
Eizaguirre I, Aldazabal P, Garcia N, Orgiles I, Garcia-Arenzana JM, Ariz C (2001) [Bacterial translocation associated with short bowel: role of ileocecal valve and cecum]. Cir Pediatr 14:57–60
Sagar PM, MacFie J, Sedman P, May J, Mancey-Jones B, Johnstone D (1995) Intestinal obstruction promotes gut translocation of bacteria. Dis Colon Rectum 38:640–644
Garcia-Tsao G, Albillos A, Barden GE, West AB (1993) Bacterial translocation in acute and chronic portal hypertension. Hepatology 17:1081–1085
Deitch EA, Rutan R, Waymack JP (1996) Trauma, shock, and gut translocation. New Horiz 4:289–299
Morales J, Kibsey P, Thomas PD, Poznansky MJ, Hamilton SM (1992) The effects of ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion on bacterial translocation, lipid peroxidation, and gut histology: studies on hemorrhagic shock in pigs. J Trauma 33:221–226; discussion 226–227
Hebra A, Hong J, McGowan KL, Smith C, McKernan ML, Ross AJ 3rd (1994) Bacterial translocation in mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion injury: is dysfunctional motility the link? J Pediatr Surg 29:280–285; discussion 285–287
Cicalese L, Sileri P, Green M, Abu-Elmagd K, Kocoshis S, Reyes J (2001) Bacterial translocation in clinical intestinal transplantation. Transplantation 71:1414–1417
Fryer JP, Kim S, Wells CL, Fasola C, Jechorek RP, Dunn DL, Pirenne J, Arazola L, Gruessner RW (1996) Bacterial translocation in a large-animal model of small-bowel transplantation. Portal vs systemic venous drainage and the effect of tacrolimus immunosuppression. Arch Surg 131:77–84
Lopez F, Hernandez G, Zuniga A, Castillo L, Ruiz F, Anazco R, Howard M, Rivera C, Bugedo G, Leiva G (1995) [Bacterial translocation in a model of small intestine autotransplant in dogs]. Rev Med Chil 123:1453–1460
Kane TD, Alexander JW, Johannigman JA (1998) The detection of microbial DNA in the blood: a sensitive method for diagnosing bacteremia and/or bacterial translocation in surgical patients. Ann Surg 227:1-9
Kucukaydin M, Kocaoglu C, Koksal F, Kontas O (2000) Detection of intestinal bacterial translocation in subclinical ischemia-reperfusion using the polymerase chain reaction technique. J Pediatr Surg 35:41–43
Pierro A, van Saene HK, Donnell SC, Hughes J, Ewan C, Nunn AJ, Lloyd DA (1996) Microbial translocation in neonates and infants receiving long-term parenteral nutrition. Arch Surg 131:176–179
Wells CL, Maddaus MA, Reynolds CM, Jechorek RP, Simmons RL (1987) Role of anaerobic flora in the translocation of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic intestinal bacteria. Infect Immun 55:2689–2694
Gianotti L, Braga M, Vaiani R, Almondo F, Di Carlo V (1996) Experimental gut-derived endotoxaemia and bacteraemia are reduced by systemic administration of monoclonal anti-LPS antibodies. Burns 22:120–124
Grant D, Hurlbut D, Zhong R, Wang PZ, Chen HF, Garcia B, Behme R, Stiller C, Duff J (1991) Intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation following small bowel transplantation in the rat. Transplantation 52:221–224
Deitch EA (1989) Simple intestinal obstruction causes bacterial translocation in man. Arch Surg 124:699–701
Schimpl G, Feierl G, Linni K, Uitz C, Ozbey H, Hollwarth ME (1999) Bacterial translocation in short-bowel syndrome in rats. Eur J Pediatr Surg 9:224–227
Alexander JW, Gianotti L, Pyles T, Carey MA, Babcock GF (1991) Distribution and survival of Escherichia coli translocating from the intestine after thermal injury. Ann Surg 213:558–566; discussion 566–557
Cruz N, Lu Q, Alvarez X, Deitch EA (1994) Bacterial translocation is bacterial species dependent: results using the human Caco-2 intestinal cell line. J Trauma 36:612–616
Steffen EK, Berg RD, Deitch EA (1988) Comparison of translocation rates of various indigenous bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to the mesenteric lymph node. J Infect Dis 157:1032–1038
Ozawa A, Sawamura S, Yanagawa Y, Nagao T, Sasaki S (1985) Gastrointestinal decontamination in the compromised host and its clinical significance. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 10:181–192
Kazez A, Saglam M, Doymaz MZ, Bulut Y, Asci Z (2001) Detection of bacterial translocation during intestinal distension in rats using the polymerase chain reaction. Pediatr Surg Int 17:624–627
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hernandez Oliveros, F., Zou, Y., Lopez, G. et al. Critical assessment of the methods used for detection of bacterial translocation. Ped Surgery Int 20, 267–270 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-003-1124-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-003-1124-0