Causative bacteria associated with a clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula infection after distal pancreatectomy.

In the CR-POPF group, ascitic bacterial contamination was not observed in the early postoperative stage, but the bacterial contamination rate increased after pancreatic juice leakage occurred. Therefore, CR-POPF-related infections in distal pancreatectomy may be caused by a retrograde infection of pancreatic juice.