Standard rectal swabs as a surrogate sample for gut microbiome monitoring in intensive care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of routinely available rectal swabs as a surrogate sample type for testing the gut microbiome and monitoring antibiotic effects on key gut microorganisms, of patients hospitalised in an intensive care unit. A metagenomic whole genome sequencing approach was undertaken to determine the diversity of organisms as well as resistance genes and to compare findings between the two sampling techniques.

Results

No significant difference was observed in overall diversity between the faeces and rectal swabs and sampling technique was not demonstrated to predict microbial community variation. More human DNA was present in the swabs and some differences were observed only for a select few anaerobes and bacteria also associat

SUBMITTER: Schlebusch S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9004175 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature