Promotion of bacterial translocation by major liver resection in obstructive jaundice in rats colonised predominantly with indigenous Escherichia coli

The influence of major liver resection in obstructive jaundice on bacterial translocation was evaluated in rats that were colonised predominantly with a genetically labelled strain of Escherichia coli. The strain, JNW14, originally isolated from rat faeces, was labelled with bacitracin, neomycin and streptomycin resistance markers. Fifty-two specific-pathogen-free male Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups and were treated as follows: group 1 (n = 8), sham ligation of common bile duct; group 2 (n = 7), common bile duct ligation (CBDL); and group 3 (n = 37), 70% hepatectomy 7 days after CBDL. The rats were treated with the above antibiotics and then given E. coli strain JNW14 in their drinking water. Translocation of E. coli JNW14 from the gastrointestinal tract to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), lungs, liver, spleen and portal vein was evaluated in each group. In group 3 (CBDL plus hepatectomy), the incidence of translocation of E. coli JNW14 to the liver and spleen after hepatectomy was significantly higher than in groups 1 and 2. This result indicates that major liver resection in obstructive jaundice promotes bacterial translocation to systemic organs. Furthermore, the numbers of viable E. coli JNW14 in the MLNs in the lung culture-positive rats were significantly higher than those in the lung culture-negative rats, suggesting that lymphatic-thoracic duct systemic circulation is a major route of bacterial translocation.