Bacterial biofilm within diseased pancreatic and biliary tracts.

Background: Bacterial community structures in human pancreatic and biliary tracts were evaluated.

Methods: Gall bladder stones from 153 patients, 20 gall bladder walls, six common duct stones, 52 biliary stents, 21 duodenal biopsies, nine pancreatic duct biopsies, and five bile ducts were investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with ribosomal RNA targeted Cy3/Cy5 (carbocyanine) labelled oligonucleotide probes.

Result: Duodenal, gall bladder, and bile duct walls were free of bacteria.