Induced hypothermia is protective in a rat model of pneumococcal pneumonia associated with increased adenosine triphosphate availability and turnover*

Abstract

Hypothermia did not adversely affect bacterial growth, but rather reduced bacterial dissemination in a rat model of pneumococcal pneumosepsis. Furthermore, hypothermia reduced lung injury associated with restored adenosine triphosphate availability and turnover. These findings suggest that hypothermia may reduce organ injury by preventing sepsis-related mitochondrial dysfunction.