Use of d-Lactic Acid Measurements in the Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 154; no. 4; pp. 658 - 664
• Main Authors: Smith, Sharon M., Eng, Robert H. K., Buccini, Frank
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.10.1986; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Acidosis; Anaerobiosis; Animals; Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial infections; Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Bacterial Infections - metabolism; Bacteroides fragilis; Bacteroides fragilis - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Body fluids; Carbohydrate metabolism; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Kinetics; Klebsiella Infections - blood; Klebsiella pneumoniae - metabolism; Lactates - biosynthesis; Lactates - blood; Lactates - metabolism; Lactic Acid; Liver - metabolism; Lung - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolism; Miscellaneous; Peritonitis - blood; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Urine; Infection; Human; Urine; Bacteriosis; Diagnostic; Lactic acid; Blood
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/154.4.658

This study explored the use of d-lactic acid as a marker for bacterial infections. d-Lactic acid was produced by frequently encountered human bacterial pathogens under anaerobic growth conditions; Bacteroides fragilis produced the largest amount. Orally administered d-lactic acid was absorbed from the intestines of rats and later found in measurable quantities in the blood and urine. Eunephric and anephric rats that received d-Iactic acid intravenously showed similar quantities of this metabolite in the blood. These quantities are consistent with the distribution of d-lactic acid to total body water. Isolated liver and lung tissues from rats did not metabolize or produce d-lactic acid. Rats with experimentally induced, sublethal klebsiella peritonitis had d-lactic acidemia of 0.2 mM and 25.6 mM at 0 and 6 hr of infection, respectively. In a normal human, d-lactic acid was detected in the urine and blood after a subcutaneous injection of d-Iactic acid, and pharmacokinetics of elimination similar to those of rats were found.