The ascitic bacterial translocation in cirrhotic patients and short-term follow up / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the incidence, consequence and short-term prognosis of noninflammatory ascitic bacterial translocation (BT) in cirrhotic patients. Methods A set of universal primers was designed based on the conservative regions in bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) genes. Eighty-seven ascitie and/or serum samples from cirrhotic patients were amplified using PCR, and bacterial DNA was detected as molecular marker of BT. The corresponding bacteria were identified by nucleotide sequencing of purified PCR products. All patients were followed up of six months. The outcome of the patients were observed and bacterial DNA in ascites were detected again in some patients. Results Among 87 cirrhotic patients, bacterial DNA was positive in 33 aseites and 12 serum samples with E. coli in predominant. The bacterial DNA identification indicated that similarity of 99% between the sequence was found in both ascites and blood from one patients. Six months later, the bacterial DNA in ascites was dynamically changed. The variables correlatied with prognosis of the patients were liver function and BT. Conclusions Non-inflammatory BT is a dynamic process in cirrhotic patients, which may either lead to infection or be eliminated by the host. Liver function and the incidence of BT can influence the short-time prognosis of cirrhotic patients.