Microorganisms of the Liver, Biliary Tract and Duodenal Aspirates in Biliary Diseases

Abstract

In 49 patients with diseases of the gallbladder and the common duct the microflora of preoperative duodenal aspirates was compared to that of operative specimens from the liver and biliary tract. Species of the family Enterobacteriaceae were recovered from operative specimens of 11 out of 12 patients who harboured more than 10³ of such organisms per ml of duodenal aspirates. The operative cultures were considered as positive in only 3 out of 28 patients, the duodenal aspirates of whom did not show growth or contained less than 10⁵ of common nasopharyngeal organisms per ml. More than 10⁵ of such organisms per ml were isolated from duodenal aspirates of 14 patients. Streptococcus viridans, Staphylcoccus aureus, or micrococci were encountered in operative specimens from 7 of these subjects. Calculi in the common duct were frequently accompanied by positive operative cultures and a high number of microorganisms in duodenal bile.

Key-words:

• Bacteria
• bile
• biliary tract
• cholelithiasis
• common bile duct calculi
• duodenum
• gastrointestinal diseases
• infection
• intubation
• liver