‘The term ‘bacterial translocation’ is used to describe the passage of viable resident bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to normally sterile tissues such as the mesenteric lymph nodes and other internal organs.⁷ The term also applies to the passage of inert particles and other macromolecules, such as lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, across the intestinal mucosal barrier.’

‘Bacterial translocation has been shown to occur in various patient populations.⁶ As already stated, it occurs in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery, organ donors and those with intestinal obstruction, colorectal cancer, ischaemia–reperfusion injury shock and pancreatitis. Many authors suggest an increased prevalence in patients with obstructive jaundice, those receiving parenteral nutrition and the malnourished, but the evidence for this is limited. Interestingly, translocation, assessed by endotoxin or bacterial culture of portal or systemic blood, has only rarely been demonstrated after trauma’

‘The gut origin of sepsis hypothesis is an attractive and simple concept that presupposes that bacteria cross the intestinal barrier and cause sepsis at distant sites. There is now good evidence from human subjects to support this theory, which confirms that translocation predisposes to an increase in septic morbidity. Bacterial and endotoxin translocation probably also occurs to a limited extent on a regular basis in healthy individuals. In this situation translocation serves to provide an antigenic stimulus, but normal barrier function is preserved and morbidity does not ensue. Only if normal mechanisms of defence are overwhelmed does translocation occur. Therefore there seems little doubt that the phenomenon of bacterial translocation is associated with septic morbidity.’

MacFie J. Current status of bacterial translocation as a cause of surgical sepsis. Br Med Bull. 2004 Dec 13;71:1-11. Free Full Text