Antibacterial activity of the pancreatic fluid

Effect of the antibacterial activity of pig pancreatic juice on human multiresistant bacteria

INTRODUCTION

The role of the exocrine pancreas in regulating gut microflora colonization is unclear. The main objective in the current study was to assess the effect of pancreatic fluid on the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

METHODS

The antibacterial activity of pure pig pancreatic juice collected from catheterized, healthy, conscious, and anesthetized pigs was investigated with multiresistant microbial isolates and nonpathogenic strains. Studies were performed on pathogenic bacterial and fungi as well as lactic acid bacteria and reference strains.

RESULTS

Pancreatic juice was effective (P < 0.01) against multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens, whereas lactic acid bacteria were insensitive. The antibacterial action was independent of pancreatic juice proteolytic activity. The in vitro antibacterial properties of pancreatic juice last for several hours. Data suggest that broth composition may modulate the intensity of pancreatic juice antibacterial activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic juice antibacterial activity may be an important factor in limiting the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. We postulate that observed antibacterial activity of the pancreatic juice could play an important role as one of the factors of innate immunity.

Pancreatic function after severe acute biliary pancreatitis: the role of necrosectomy

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the recovery of pancreatic function after severe acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP), especially the influence of necrosectomy on endocrine and exocrine functions.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study including 39 patients with severe ABP. According to need or no need for surgical necrosectomy, patients were further subdivided into 2 groups. Functional pancreatic evaluation was carried out 12 months after the ABP episode. Endocrine function was evaluated by an oral glucose tolerance test and exocrine function by fecal fat excretion, fecal chymotrypsin (FQ), and secretin-cerulein tests (SCT).

RESULTS

Most of the patients with necrosectomy had an abnormal exocrine pancreatic function, with steatorrhea in 25%. In the group without surgery, exocrine function was pathologic in only 13.3% and there were no cases of steatorrhea. Endocrine function was pathologic in 75% of patients undergoing necrosectomy versus 26.7% in the nonoperated group. In this latter group, the patients with abnormal endocrine function did not require insulin therapy, while in 33.3% of patient in the necrosectomy group insulin was necessary.

CONCLUSIONS

In our homogeneous series of severe ABP, necrosectomy impaired significantly pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function. On the other hand, most patients with the same origin and severity index, but without surgical debridement, maintained normal pancreatic function.