[Endotoxemia in patients with food poisoning]

In 22 patients with alimentary toxoinfection caused by salmonella and other gram-negative bacteria, endotoxemia was proved in 8 (36%) patients. The causative agent of the disease was proved in 11 (50%) of cases. In 6 (54%) patients the causative agent were from salmonella species: S. enteritidis, S. typhimurioum, S. hadar and S. heidelberg. Endotoxemia and positive coprocultures, that is, hemocultures were found in two patients respectively. In two patients with positive coprocultures and hemocultures, endotoxemia was found as well as in two patients with unknown causative agent. In patients with alimentary toxoinfection caused by salmonella and other gram-negative bacteria, endotoxemia occurred relatively often. Early detection of endotoxemia is important for application of urgent therapeutic measures and procedures, especially in immunocompromised patients.