Bacterial Translocation: Intestinal Epithelial Permeability

Intestinal permeability and systemic infections in critically ill patients: Effect of glutamine*

“…Furthermore, strains of cecal Escherichia coli harvested from stressed mice after hepatectomy-starvation present major adherence and reduce the transepithelial electrical resistance of cultured mouse colon cells (47). Wells and Erlandsen (31) suggested that, although the available data provide only circumstantial evidence, they are consistent with the view that the translocation of bacteria from the intestinal lumen to the systemic circulation is responsible for the development of bacteremia and sepsis in critically ill patients. More recently, however, the clinical relevance of bacterial translocation in humans has been questioned (19) and even rejected (44).…”

“…17,29,30). Recovery of viable enteric bacteria from mesenteric lymph nodes is considered by some to be one of the most sensitive direct methods to demonstrate gut barrier failure and bacterial translocation (1,31), but others argue that is not clear whether positive nodes merely represent a normal immunogenic event or reflect some form of a morbid state (17,18).…”

Review article: bacterial translocation in the critically ill – evidence and methods of prevention

“…Luminal bacteria that manage to breach the extrinsic intestinal barrier defences can cross the mucosal epithelium by taking either the transcellular or the paracellular route, or a combination of the two 20, 21 . On entering the laminal propria , most bacteria are destroyed by macrophages; however, those that are not enter the portal venous system and associated solid organs, pass to the MLNs or transgress the peritoneal cavity directly.…”

Bacterial translocation: Overview of mechanisms and clinical impact

“…Transcellular permeability is under the control of specific enterocyte channels and membrane pumps 24 . There is experimental evidence showing viable bacteria, including E. coli and Proteus mirabilis , within intact enterocytes of rats, providing evidence of transcellular passage through enterocytepinocytosis and active bacteria invasion of the mucosa barrier 25 . Tight junctions translocation is affected by luminal osmolality and direct damage to the enterocyte cytoskeleton and its protein support structures composed of actin filaments and microtubules.…”