BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF LIVER PARENCHYMA IN CONTROLS AND IN PATIENTS WITH GALLSTONES OR COMMON BILE-DUCT STONES WITH OR WITHOUT ACUTE CHOLANGITIS

Background/Aims: The presence of aerobic and/or anaerobic bacteria in the Liver parenchyma, gallbladder bile, and common bile duct was inves tigated. Materials and Methods: There were 15 control subjects, 32 cas es with symptomatic gallstones, 16 patients with common bile duct ston es without acute cholangitis and 8 cases with common bile duct stones with an. acute suppurative cholangitis. Results: No bacteria were isol ated in, controls. The percentage of positive cultures in Liver parenc hyma increased in proportion to the severity of the biliary tract dise ase. There was no clear correlation between normal and altered hepatic histology and the presence or;absence of bacteria except in. patients with acute cholangitis. Conclusions: When biliary tract obstruction i s present, the biliary tract is more vulnerable to invasion of bacteri a and therefore increases the chance of spread into the liver parenchy ma.