OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Gutuo Qingfu Decoction (GQD) via gastro-enteric perfusion on blood level of bacterial 16S rRNA gene in severe multi-traumatic (SMT) patients at early stage.

METHODSSixty SMT patients were assigned to two groups, the 33 in the treated group and the 27 in the control group. They were treated with the same conventional treatment, but different in the gastro-enteric infusion with GOD for the former and saline for the latter. Blood 16SrRNA gene, body temperature, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood bacterial culture positive rate on the 3, 6, 9 post-trauma days were detected, and incidences of infective complication and mortality were observed.

RESULTSBody temperature on day 9 in the treated group was significantly lower than in the control group (37.6 +/- 0.12 degrees C vs 38.1 +/- 0.15 degrees C, P < 0.05); so did the CRP level on day 6 (52.4 +/- 6.3 mg/L vs 104.3 +/- 20.1 mg/L, P < 0.05) and day 9 (42.9 + 7.5 mg/L vs 92.5 +/- 17.1 mg/L, P < 0.05), as well as the positive rates of blood 16SrRNA gene on day 6 and 9 (33.3% vs 59.3% and 30.3% vs 77.8%, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). However, the positive rates of blood culture were insignificantly different between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Besides, incidence of infective complication in the treated group was significantly lower than in the control group (30.3% vs 59.3%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly stage gastrointestinal administration of GQD is likely to have benefits for the improvement of intestinal mucosa barrier and reduction of enteric bacterial translocation in SMT patients, and it may also reduce the incidence of infective complication in these patients.