Asociación entre recuento bacteriano en la bilis y desarrollo de morbilidad postoperatoria en pacientes con colangitis aguda

Abstract

Background: Bacterial colonization of bile is common in patients with bile duct obstruction, even in the absence of clinical signs of sepsis. Aim: To determine the association between bile bacterial count and postoperative complications in patients with bile duct obstruction. Material and Methods: A bile bacterial count was performed to patients with acute cholangitis caused by biliary stones, operated between 2004 and 2006. Post operative complications and length of hospital stay were recorded in these patients. Results: Fifty four patients aged between 25 and 95 years (34 females) were studied. The most common bacteria found, were Escherichia coli in 32 cultures (50%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae in 6 cultures (9%). In 45 cases the bacterial load was over 10 5 colony forming units (CFU)/ml. Among patients with and without complications, 68 and 69% had a bacterial load over 10 5 CFU/ml, respectively (p = NS). A multivariate analysis showed an association between platelet count and prothrombin time with the incidence of complications. Conclusions: In this series of patients with acute cholangitis, no association between bile bacterial count and postoperative complications was observed. © 2009.