Septic induced acute gastric erosions: the role of cimetidine.

A reproducible septic canine model closely akin to the clinical situation has been developed. Intraperitoneal instillation of four different bacteria plus canine gall bladder bile led to bacterial peritonitis, septicemia, and bleeding acute fundic gastric mucosal erosions. Intraperitoneal instillation of normal saline did not cause septicemia and acute gastric erosions did not develop. In this model oral cimetidine prevented the development of septic induced acute erosions, even though in these animals blood cultures were positive and bacterial peritonitis was present.