[Bacteria in the gallbladder wall and gallstones--indications for cholecystectomy]

After cholecystectomy the bacterial content of the bile, gallbladder wall and gallstones was studied in 40 patients. Bacteria could be found in 9 cases in the gallbladder wall, in 8 cases in the gallstones and in 3 cases in the bile. In chronic inflammatory thickened gallbladder wall bacteria were positive in 8 of 14 cases whereas in normal gallbladders bacteria were found only in 3 of 26 cases (difference statistically significant, P = 0.01). It is concluded that in gallstone disease bacteria are not only present in bile but also in the gallbladder wall and within the gallstones. As bacteria are mostly present in a gallbladder wall with chronical inflammatory changes a thickened gallbladder should be removed even in asymptomatic or slightly symptomatic cases of gallstone disease in order to prevent relapsing cholecystitis.