Experimental translocation of intestinal bacteria caused by closed abdominal trauma, acute blood loss, internal haemorrhage

Abstract

Bacterial translocation plays an important role in the development of multiple organ failure, which develops as a result of trauma. The severity of bacterial translocation is proportional to the degree of blood loss and damage. The purpose of the study was to establish the spectrum of microorganisms involved in translocation, their population levels, and explore changes in the microecology of mesenteric lymph nodes and liver tissue in white rats subjected to closed abdominal trauma, acute blood loss, internal haemorrhage, and their combination. Experiments were performed on 36 male rats. Biological material (mesenteric lymph nodes, liver tissue) was collected at 7 and 14 hours post-experiment and the samples underwent homogenisation and were then cultured according to laboratory protocols. Isolated bacteria were identified using a Vitek-2 Compact 15 analyser (bioMérieux, France), and their population level was evaluated in log10 CFU/g. Bacterial translocation was considered present when a positive result was obtained simultaneously in the mesenteric lymph nodes and in the tissue of the right lobe of the liver. It was established that the main role in translocation is played by E. coli, P. stuartii, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa. The combination of abdominal trauma with acute blood loss was accompanied by translocation and K. pneumoniae. Trauma combined with acute blood loss causes additional translocation of E. faecalis, E. cloacae, E. faecium; while internal haemorrhage led to S. aureus and S. epidermidis translocation. The spectrum of translocating microorganisms was more diverse and multi-component when the trauma was combined with internal haemorrhage. At 14 hours post-trauma, there was a tendency for increased population levels of the isolated bacteria compared to the 7-hour data. In all experimental groups, E. coli strains were cultured in the highest concentrations

Keywords

• gut microbiota
• bacterial translocation
• mesenteric lymph nodes
• blunt abdominal trauma
• haemorrhage