Effect of Chemical Irritation of the Peritoneum on Transmural Migration of Intestinal Organisms

SummaryChemical peritonitis induced by repeated injections of monolate or gum-tragacanth in rabbits and dogs results in the appearance of E. coli in pure culture, in small to moderate numbers, in the inflamed peritoneum. Once this contamination is established, it continues for some time after the injections are discontinued. Eventually all cultures are sterile.By exclusion of all other possible sources of contamination of the inflamed peritoneum, it appears that the E. coli found in the peritoneal exudate is derived from the intestinal lumen by transmural migration.