BACKGROUND: Aerobic flora is associated with bacterial translocation (BT). The anaerobic flora may have a role in the occurrence of this phenomenon. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metronidazol on the intestinal morphology and on the occurrence of BT in the presence or absence of intestinal obstruction. METHODS: Eighty wistar rats were randomized to two groups: group metronidazol (n=40) and group saline (n=40). They received the correspondent medication for 72h. Each group comprised four subgroups of 10 rats each as follows: without laparotomy, with laparotomy, ileal and sigmoideal obstruction. After receiving the solutions for 48h, the rats underwent different operative procedures depending on the subgroups except for subgroup without laparotomy in which no operation was carried out. They were killed after 72h and the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen and blood samples were cultured. Biopsies of the jejunum, ileum and sigmoide were collected and sent to histomorphometric measurements. RESULTS: A significantly higher mortality was observed in group saline in obstructed animals. There was no important morphological differences between the groups. In metronidazol group the incidence of BT (8/40; 20%) was significantly higher (p =0.028) than in controls (1/40; 2,5%) in non-operated animals. In the subset of ileum obstruction, the rate of BT was higher in controls than in metronidazol group (27/40; 67,5% vs. 7/40; 17,5%; p<0.001). However, there was greater translocation to lymph nodes in metronidazol group compared with controls in sigmoid obstructed rats. CONCLUSIONS: Metronidazol favors the occurrence of BT under basal conditions. There is no important morphological alteration induced by metronidazol. Intestinal obstruction enhances BT and the site of obstruction influences the rate of translocation associated with metronidazol. However, mortality is lower when metronidazol is used in obstructed animals.
Bacterial translocation; Metronidazol
