The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions in the form ofrelatively high molecular weight biocompatible polymers such as polyethyleneglycol, optionally supplemented with a protective polymer such ad dextranand/or essential pathogen nutrients such as L-glutamine. Also provided aremethods for preventing or treating gut-derived sepsis attributable tointestinal pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa by administering highmolecular weight polyethylene glycol as well as methods for monitoring theadministration of high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, such as inmethods of preventing, ameliorating or treating microbe-induced epithelialdisorders, as exemplified by gut-derived sepsis. Frequently, gut-derivedsepsis arises as a complication in mammals recovering from surgicalintervention or suffering from a disease or disorder, providing indications ofsuitable animals to receive preventative treatment. Finally, the inventionprovides a composition comprising infant formula and polyethylene glycol andmethods for using that composition.
