Stomach as source of bacteria colonising respiratory tract during artificial ventilation

Atherton, S.T.; White, D.J.

Lancet 2(8097): 968-969

1978


ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736
PMID: 81991
Document Number: 127814
Adults (10) had intermittent positive-pressure ventilation for 3-34 days. All 10 had paralytic ileus. Microbial overgrowth in the stomach was found in 9 patients (bacterial in 7 and fungal in 2); gram-negative bacteria predominated. The trachea invariably became colonized by bacteria, mainly gram-negative organisms. In 3 instances the gram-negative bacteria were found in the stomach before they appeared in the tracheal aspirate and in 1 case the pathogen originated in the feces.

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