The gut serves not only as a physiological portal for the entry of water and nutrients into the
body, but also as a barrier limiting the systemic absorption of intraluminal microbes,
microbial products, or both. Evidence exists to support the view that trauma, sepsis or other
critical illnesses lead to derangements in the barrier function of the gut. One potential
consequence of deranged barrier function is bloodstream invasion by gut-derived
pathogens, leading to “primary” bacteraemias or fungaemias, or even metastatic infections …