The small intestine as the origin of bacteremia in acute diffuse peritonitis.

Studies have demonstrated the failure of gut barrier function in all cases of experimental acute diffuse peritonitis. Histobacterioscopy and electron microscopy showed the occurrence of bacteria under the basal membrane, in lymphatic and blood capillaries of the small intestinal villi. Experimental and clinical trials with blood sampling from different regions of the circulation have demonstrated the gut origin polymicrobial bacteremia in 66% of patients and in 75% of experimental animals with acute diffuse peritonitis.