title: The influence of omentectomy on bacterial clearance: an experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of an omentectomy on peritoneal defense mechanisms and its clinical consequences have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the influence of omentectomy on bacterial growth in blood and tissue specimen cultures in rats with experimental peritonitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty Wistar-Albino rats were included in the present study. Animals were assigned into five groups as follow: Group 1 (n = 10), omentectomy alone; Group 2 (n = 10), omentectomy + bacterial peritonitis; Group 3 (n = 10), bacterial peritonitis alone; Group 4 (n = 10), laparotomy alone; and Group 5 (n = 10), sham group. Culture positivity rate and bacterial growth (colony forming units [CFU]/gram tissue) were assessed in mesenteric lymphoid tissue and venous blood of all animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterial growth in lymphoid tissue was significantly higher in Groups 2 and 3 than others (both, p < 0.05). CFU of Escherichia coli in lymphoid tissue was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Groups 1 and 3 (both, p < 0.05/4). Blood culture positivity was significantly higher in Group 2 than the others (both, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The omentum has an important role in the host peritoneal defense system. Peritoneal infection may pursue a more severe course with increased bacterial entrance into the blood in the absence of the omentum.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Harran University, Faculty of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey. aliuzunkoy@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uzunköy
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozbilge
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horoz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000382:microbiology; D009852:Omentum / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar