The role of infection in acute pancreatitis

Abstract
There are several hypothetical mechanisms by which bacteria may enter pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis (fig 1): the haematogenous route via the circulation9 10; transmural migration through the colonic bowel wall either to the pancreas (translocation),11 via ascites to the pancreas,9 12 13 or via the lymphatics to the circulation12 14; via the biliary duct system15 16; from the duodenum via the main pancreatic duct.11 17
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