[Bacterial translocation in acute pancreatitis. Experimental study in rats]

Ninety Wistar rats were studied to confirm if the intestinal tract is a source of infection in acute pancreatitis. Bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, peritoneal cavity, and blood was determined at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h and 96 hours after induction of non lethal acute pancreatitis. Bacterial growing was present in 60% (6 h), 90% (24 h), 70% (48 h) and 40% (96 h) (p < 0.05) of the mesenteric lymph nodes. Live bacteria were recovered from 67% (6 h), 90% (24 h), 50% (48 h) and 40% (96 h) (p < 0.05) of the pancreas. Gram-positive bacteria translocate more frequently than Gram-negative bacteria in the early period (6 h). Lately (24-96 h), Gram-negative bacteria were much more frequently isolated (p < 0.05). The most common organism isolated was Escherichia coli. No overgrowth of cecal Gram-negative bacteria was found. It is concluded that bacterial translocation in acute pancreatitis is an early phenomena, initially caused by Gram-positive bacteria and lately by Gram-negative bacteria, and associated with the severity of pancreatic lesions.