Evaluation of bacteria and biliary tract diseases.

Bile specimens were taken for culture from 100 patients who had disease originating in the biliary tract. Routine cases of chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis were found to have a low incidence of infected bile. An acute process appears to be needed in order to produce infected bile, and an acute obstruction of the bile duct due to gallstones produced infected bile. An effort should be made to select these patients and begin antibiotic therapy as soon as possible.