[Quantitative bacteriological evaluation of intraoperative peritoneal lavage in animal experiment]

In a model experiment with albino rats the effectiveness of intraoperative peritoneal lavage has been tested by means of defined lethal staphylococus aureus infections. A positive result can only be expected, if intraperitoneal lavage is started immediately after bacterial contamination. In this can a 10% decrease in the total number of germs be expected. If the lavage is done up to 15 or 30 min after the germ application the efficiency rate declines to less than 1%. In addition bacteraemia could be proved already 15 min after germ application. These results clearly show the limits of peritoneal lavage with physiological saline.