Does the bacteremia observed in hemorrhagic shock have clinical significance? A study in germ-free animals.
We have recently reported the rapid appearance of bacteria and endotoxin in the blood of rats and of trauma patients in the course of 30 minutes to 2 hours of hemorrhagic shock. The current study was designed to determine the effect of this bacteremia and endotoxemia on survival. Thirty-three conventional (C:group 1) and 36 germ-free (GF:group 2) Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to our previously described model of treated hemorrhagic shock. Survival in the GF group was significantly better than the C group at 24, 48, and 72 hours after shock. Endotoxin levels were elevated in 88% of C group during shock and in 28% of GF group. The gut of the GF animal contains endotoxin (26 ng/gm of stool) as does the sterile food supply (393 ng/gm of rat chow).
Department of Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103.
B F
BF
Rush
J A
JA
Redan
J J
JJ
Flanagan
J B
JB
Heneghan
J
J
Hsieh
T F
TF
Murphy
S
S
Smith
G W
GW
Machiedo
D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology*; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors
D004731:Endotoxins