Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directions
Abstract Surgical site infections (SSIs) continue to pose a significant healthcare challenge by contributing to longer post-surgical recovery times, greater healthcare costs and higher patient mortality. The traditional understanding of SSIs has focused on the impact of various external origins of c...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Translational Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06462-x |
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| author | Simone N. Zwicky Lara Mordasini Daniel Spari Bahtiyar Yilmaz Guido Beldi |
| author_facet | Simone N. Zwicky Lara Mordasini Daniel Spari Bahtiyar Yilmaz Guido Beldi |
| author_sort | Simone N. Zwicky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Surgical site infections (SSIs) continue to pose a significant healthcare challenge by contributing to longer post-surgical recovery times, greater healthcare costs and higher patient mortality. The traditional understanding of SSIs has focused on the impact of various external origins of contamination or on the importance of intestinal spillage during surgical procedures. However, recent studies highlight the significant contribution of the patient's intestinal microbiota in the onset of SSIs. One possible pathway of infection is translocation of bacteria from the intestines to organs that are typically sterile, such as the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). These secondary lymphoid organs are then potential reservoirs for SSIs. This review summarizes the current data on the incidence and mechanisms of bacterial translocation (BT) to MLNs in the context of a surgical insult and its association with postoperative infectious complications. Data from animal studies discuss how BT to MLNs is driven by factors such as dysbiosis and surgical interventions and is strongly linked to infectious outcomes. Potential translocation pathways including intracellular transit and carrier-independent mechanisms are explored. Similarly, human studies provide evidence that BT to MLNs is a frequent occurrence during abdominal surgery and significantly increases the risk of infectious complications. We further discuss the limitations of current methodologies for studying BT and SSIs and highlight how advanced techniques can provide novel insights into these processes. This review identifies key areas for future research and potential targets for preventative strategies to increase our understanding of the role of the intestinal microbiota in BT to MLNs and its contribution to SSIs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-288d93f941d043ff9681045354b2fbfe |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1479-5876 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Translational Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-288d93f941d043ff9681045354b2fbfe2025-08-20T03:42:52ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762025-08-0123112410.1186/s12967-025-06462-xBacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directionsSimone N. Zwicky0Lara Mordasini1Daniel Spari2Bahtiyar Yilmaz3Guido Beldi4Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernAbstract Surgical site infections (SSIs) continue to pose a significant healthcare challenge by contributing to longer post-surgical recovery times, greater healthcare costs and higher patient mortality. The traditional understanding of SSIs has focused on the impact of various external origins of contamination or on the importance of intestinal spillage during surgical procedures. However, recent studies highlight the significant contribution of the patient's intestinal microbiota in the onset of SSIs. One possible pathway of infection is translocation of bacteria from the intestines to organs that are typically sterile, such as the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). These secondary lymphoid organs are then potential reservoirs for SSIs. This review summarizes the current data on the incidence and mechanisms of bacterial translocation (BT) to MLNs in the context of a surgical insult and its association with postoperative infectious complications. Data from animal studies discuss how BT to MLNs is driven by factors such as dysbiosis and surgical interventions and is strongly linked to infectious outcomes. Potential translocation pathways including intracellular transit and carrier-independent mechanisms are explored. Similarly, human studies provide evidence that BT to MLNs is a frequent occurrence during abdominal surgery and significantly increases the risk of infectious complications. We further discuss the limitations of current methodologies for studying BT and SSIs and highlight how advanced techniques can provide novel insights into these processes. This review identifies key areas for future research and potential targets for preventative strategies to increase our understanding of the role of the intestinal microbiota in BT to MLNs and its contribution to SSIs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06462-xSurgical site infectionsBacterial translocationAbdominal surgeryMetagenomic sequencingWhole genome sequencingPCR |
| spellingShingle | Simone N. Zwicky Lara Mordasini Daniel Spari Bahtiyar Yilmaz Guido Beldi Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directions Journal of Translational Medicine Surgical site infections Bacterial translocation Abdominal surgery Metagenomic sequencing Whole genome sequencing PCR |
| title | Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directions |
| title_full | Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directions |
| title_fullStr | Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directions |
| title_short | Bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections: evidence, technical challenges and future directions |
| title_sort | bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes fueling surgical site infections evidence technical challenges and future directions |
| topic | Surgical site infections Bacterial translocation Abdominal surgery Metagenomic sequencing Whole genome sequencing PCR |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06462-x |
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