title: Gastroduodenal dysfunction and bacterial colonisation of the ventilated lung.
abstract: The source of ventilator-associated pneumonia (gastric or oropharyngeal flora) remains controversial. We investigated the source of bacterial colonisation of the ventilated lung in 100 consecutive intensive-care patients. Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from the lower respiratory tract in 19 patients. Bacteria isolated from the stomach contents either previously or at the same time were identical to lower respiratory isolates in 11 patients. No gram-negative oropharyngeal isolate was identical to a lower respiratory tract isolate. Gastric bacterial overgrowth with gram-negative bacilli was associated with the presence of bilirubin in the stomach contents. Detectable bilirubin was also associated with subsequent acquisition of gram-negative bacilli in the lower respiratory tract. Only 5 gastric aspirate specimens with pH < 3.5 contained gram-negative bacilli. These results establish a relation between duodenal reflux and subsequent bacterial colonisation of the lower respiratory tract. Restoration of normal gastroduodenal motility might help prevent pneumonia in intensive-care patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Leeds.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sherratt
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sproat
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hawkey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004383:Duodenogastric Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin