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Bacterial Translocation Across a Histologically Intact Intestinal Mucosa

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Shock, Sepsis, and Organ Failure

Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence indicating that normal flora bacteria can translocate out of the intestinal tract and cause a significant proportion of the complicating infections seen in hospitalized immunosuppressed patients, trauma patients, and postsurgical patients (reviewed in Wells et al. 1988c). If the intestinal tract is damaged as a result of a variety of insults such as local ischemia, it is not difficult to imagine that intestinal bacteria can enter vascular or lymphatic channels and translocate to distal sites. However, there are a number of recent reports documenting that normal intestinal bacteria can initiate systemic disease by translocating through a histologically intact intestinal mucosa. Here, the route of bacterial transport is elusive, but has become an area of active investigation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, 55455

    C. L. Wells

  2. Departments of Laboratory Medicine & Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, 55455

    C. L. Wells & D. L. Dunn

  3. Cell Biology & Neuroanatomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, 55455

    S. L. Erlandsen

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 15261

    R. L. Simmons

Authors
  1. C. L. Wells
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  2. S. L. Erlandsen
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  3. D. L. Dunn
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  4. R. L. Simmons
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institut für experimentelle und klinische Traumatologie, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1200, Wien, Austria

    Günther Schlag  & Heinz Redl  & 

  2. Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Department of Surgery, Medical School, University of Maryland, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    John H. Siegel MD

  3. School of Medicine, John Hopkins University, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    John H. Siegel MD

  4. Shriners Burns Institute and The University of Texas Medical Branch, 610 Texas Avenue, Galveston, Texas, 77550, USA

    Daniel L. Traber

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg

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Wells, C.L., Erlandsen, S.L., Dunn, D.L., Simmons, R.L. (1991). Bacterial Translocation Across a Histologically Intact Intestinal Mucosa. In: Schlag, G., Redl, H., Siegel, J.H., Traber, D.L. (eds) Shock, Sepsis, and Organ Failure. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76511-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76511-7_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-53831-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76511-7

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