Pathogen colonization of the gastrointestinal microbiome at intensive care unit admission and risk for subsequent death or infection.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Loss of colonization resistance within the gastrointestinal microbiome facilitates the expansion of pathogens and has been associated with death and infection in select populations. We tested whether gut microbiome features at the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission predict death or infection.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of medical ICU adults. Rectal surveillance swabs were performed at admission, selectively cultured for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Patients were followed for 30 days for death or culture-proven bacterial infection.

Results

Of 301 patients, 123 (41%) developed culture-proven infections and 76 (25%) died. Fecal biodiversity (Shannon index) did not differ based on d

SUBMITTER: Freedberg DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6309661 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature