Physiological Responses to Live E. Coli Organisms

摘要

There is a growing concern regarding the failure to develop an effective treatment of septic shock in clinical medicine. Successful therapy would be immensely supported by an understanding of the basic mechanisms of the shock state. The development of a more realistic animal model would greatly aid in elucidating clinical problems observed in the human patient. Preliminary research in this laboratory suggested some differences between endotoxin shock and shock produced by injection of live E. coli organisms in dogs. A primary purpose of our research has been to determine the effects of intravenous injections of living E. coli organisms in dogs and monkeys and compare them with responses produced by endotoxin. Hemodynamic changes, pathologic alterations, and metabolic abnormalities have been evaluated in animals receiving lethal and sublethal injections of live E. coli organisms and comparable dosages of purified endotoxin. (Author)