The frequency of live bacteria in gallstones

Abstract

Background Septic complications reported from stones and concretions lost in the peritoneal cavity following laparoscopic cholecystectomy reflect the infective potential of gallstones. Although bacteria have been demonstrated in the core of gallstones by scanning electron microscopy and molecular genetic techniques, gallstone culture is the only conclusive proof of whether such bacteria are viable and can cause infection. Methods Gallstones retrieved from patients undergoing cholecystectomy were decontaminated after surface cleaning with alcohol, and each core was scooped for culture. Results In this study organisms were cultured from the cores of gallstones in 81% of cases of cholelithiasis and 77% of cases of gallbladder carcinoma, irrespective of stone type and size. Both enteric (57.5%) and non‐enteric (20%) organisms were isolated in cholelithiasis, whereas only enteric bacteria could be cultured from cases of gallbladder carcinoma. Long thought to be a causative agent, Salmonella organisms were detected in none of the 14 cases of gallbladder carcinoma. Conclusion Contrary to the popular belief that bacteria inside gallstones are dead, gallstones from most patients contain live bacteria with the potential to cause infective complications.