Sepsis from Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia decreases intestinal proliferation and induces gut epithelial cell cycle arrest.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the up-regulation in sepsis-induced gut epithelial apoptosis is balanced by an increase in intestinal proliferation and to assess mechanisms affecting the gut's regenerative response to overwhelming infection.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Animal laboratory in a university medical center.

Antibiotics improve survival and alter the inflammatory profile in a murine model of sepsis from Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.

Differing antibiotic regimens can influence both survival and the inflammatory state in sepsis. We investigated whether the addition and/or type of antimicrobial agent could effect mortality in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia-induced sepsis and if antibiotics altered systemic levels of cytokines. FVB/N mice were subjected to intratracheal injection of pathogenic bacteria and were given gentamicin, imipenem, or 0.

Inhibition of intestinal epithelial apoptosis and survival in a murine model of pneumonia-induced sepsis.

Context: Increased intestinal epithelial apoptosis is present in both human autopsy studies and animal models of sepsis. Whether altering gut apoptosis decreases mortality in sepsis induced by pathogenic bacteria outside the gut is unknown.

Objective: To determine if decreasing levels of intestinal cell death improves survival in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia-induced sepsis.

An improved technique for autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood.

A technique for autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood using the cardiotomy reservoir is described that offers several advantages over currently available autotransfusion systems.