Critically ill patients demonstrate large interpersonal variation in intestinal microbiota dysregulation: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The intestinal microbiota has emerged as a virtual organ with essential functions in human physiology. Antibiotic-induced disruption of the microbiota in critically ill patients may have a negative influence on key energy resources and immunity. We set out to characterize the fecal microbiota composition in critically ill patients both with and without sepsis and to explore the use of microbiota-derived markers for clinical outcome measurements in this setting.

Methods

In this prospective observational cohort study we analyzed the fecal microbiota of 34 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Fifteen healthy subjects served as controls. The fecal microbiota was phylogenetically characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and associations with clinical outcome pa

SUBMITTER: Lankelma JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5203863 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature