Bacterial translocation, abdominal trauma and sepsis: a prospective study investigating associations between bacterial translocation, trauma and septic morbidity.Background: The bacterial translocation (BT) describes the passage of viable resident bacteria from gastrointestinal tract to normally sterile tissues such as the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and other internal organs. The clinical and pathophysiological significance of BT remains controversial, has only rarely been demonstrated after trauma. Methods: MLNs were obtained from 36 patients undergoing laparotomy for trauma. Preoperative and operative clinical variables were evaluated and factors that influenced BT were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: BT was identified in 12 (33.3 per cent) of 36 patients. Postoperative sepsis was more common in patients with BT (41.6 versus 12.5 per cent; P < 0.047).
