Cecal ligation and puncture.

The cecum contains a high concentration of microbes, which are a combination of Gram-negative and Gram-positive flora. These bacteria range from anaerobic to facultative aerobic to aerobic organisms. In the procedure described in this unit, the ligation of the cecum produces a source of ischemic tissue as well as polymicrobial infection. This combination of ischemic/necrotic tissue and microbial infection distinguishes this multifactorial model from a number of other bacterial sepsis models, including but not limited to: bacteremia secondary to intravenous or intraperitoneal administration; fecal administration or intraperitoneal administration of fecal or bacterial plugs; colonic stents; and bacterial abscess formation.