Molecular Analysis of Microbial DNA in Infected Necrotizing Pancreatitis

In this study, patients with severe necrotizing pancreatitis will be followed prospectively throughout their hospital course (anticipated duration of hospitalization ranging between 4-8 weeks). If patients are suspected to have infection of pancreatic necrosis, they will be consented for enrollment. Patients will be determined by their attending physician to require either operative intervention or radiologic guided drainage of pancreatic necrosis and infected peripancreatic fluid. At the time of drainage procedure or intervention, one sample of peripancreatic fluid will be sent to the hospital's microbiology department for standard gram stain and bacterial culture identification and a second sample will be frozen for bacterial DNA analysis. Patients will be followed for the duration of their hospitalization for in hospital outcomes, mortality and final microbiology culture results. Samples will then be processed at six months and one year following sample collection for bacterial DNA deep sequencing analysis and will be compared to bacteria identified using standard culture technique.

Inclusion criteria

• Age greater than or equal to 18 years
• Severe necrotizing pancreatitis as evidenced by clinical examination, biochemical analysis, and/or imaging studies demonstrating pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis

Exclusion criteria

• Age less than 18 years old
• Participation in another device or drug study