Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature
11:40

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature

Published on: April 1, 2014

Microbiology of bacterial translocation in humans

C J O'Boyle1, J MacFie, C J Mitchell

  • 1Combined Gastroenterology Service, Scarborough Hospital, North Yorkshire, UK.

Gut
|March 20, 1998
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Bacterial translocation from the gut significantly increases the risk of postoperative sepsis in surgical patients. This study confirms the gut origin of sepsis in humans, with Escherichia coli being the most common pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Surgical Infections
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Bacterial translocation is a known phenomenon in animal and human studies.
  • Evidence linking bacterial translocation to postoperative sepsis and organ failure in humans requires further confirmation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify bacteria involved in translocation in surgical patients undergoing laparotomy.
  • To determine the relationship between bacterial migration and postoperative septic complications.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of mesenteric lymph nodes, serosal scrapings, and peripheral blood from 448 surgical patients.
  • Standard microbiological techniques were employed for bacterial identification.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial translocation occurred in 15.4% of patients, with Escherichia coli being the most frequent organism (54%).
  • Postoperative sepsis developed in 23% of patients, primarily caused by enteric organisms (74%).
  • Patients with bacterial translocation had a higher incidence of sepsis (41%) compared to those without (14%).

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial translocation is significantly associated with increased postoperative sepsis in surgical patients.
  • The spectrum of organisms causing septic morbidity aligns with those found in mesenteric lymph nodes.
  • These findings support the gut origin hypothesis of sepsis in humans.

More Related Videos

T Cells Capture Bacteria by Transinfection from Dendritic Cells11:39

T Cells Capture Bacteria by Transinfection from Dendritic Cells

Published on: January 13, 2016

Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates08:32

Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Urinary Tract Infection II: Pathophysiology01:25

Urinary Tract Infection II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of urinary tract infections (UTIs) encompasses several progressive stages, beginning with bacterial colonization and culminating in potential systemic complications if untreated. UTIs are primarily initiated by bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, which often originate from the gastrointestinal tract and migrate to the urinary system through the periurethral area. This migration can occur via several routes, including improper hygiene practices, sexual activity, or...
Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion01:26

Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion

Bacterial protein secretion involves translocation systems to ensure proteins reach their designated locations, including the plasma membrane, periplasm, outer membrane, or the external environment. These translocation systems are vital for bacterial physiology, supporting processes like membrane assembly, enzymatic activity in the periplasm, and interactions with the external environment. The division of labor between Sec and Tat pathways ensures efficiency in handling proteins with diverse...
Transduction01:16

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...