biostudies-literatureTsai HCThis research was supported by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (NSTC 111-2116-M-194-010), Hualien Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Dalin Tzu-Chi Hospital, and Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital-National Chung Cheng Univers1982https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12471920biostudies-literatureUnknown13(9)The rapid evolution of ventilators and their circuits, coupled with varying maximum usage durations set by different hospitals globally, poses a significant risk for the proliferation and transmission of nosocomial infections in intensive care settings. This study investigated temporal changes in bacterial community structure and predicted metabolic functions in ventilator circuits over a three-week period, with a specific focus on ESKAPE pathogens. The results of full-length 16S rRNA sequencing revealed dynamic shifts in bacterial communities, with an increased bacterial diversity and unique species prevalence in week-2 compared to week-1 and week-3. However, a marked emergence of pathogenic bacteria, including <i>Serratia marcescens</i> and <i>Chryseobacterium indologenes</i>, was observMicroorganismsDeciphering Bacterial Community Succession and Pathogen Dynamics in ICU Ventilator Circuits Through Full-Length 16S rRNA Sequencing for Mitigating the Risk of Nosocomial Infections.PMC12471920(NSTC 111-2116-M-194-010), (CYCH-CCU-2022-033).Chen JSHussain BLin ICHuang SWHsu BMHsu TKTsai HCHan JWu CCHsu GJfalseDeciphering Bacterial Community Succession and Pathogen Dynamics in ICU Ventilator Circuits Through Full-Length 16S rRNA Sequencing for Mitigating the Risk of Nosocomial Infections.The rapid evolution of ventilators and their circuits, coupled with varying maximum usage durations set by different hospitals globally, poses a significant risk for the proliferation and transmission of nosocomial infections in intensive care settings. This study investigated temporal changes in bacterial community structure and predicted metabolic functions in ventilator circuits over a three-week period, with a specific focus on ESKAPE pathogens. The results of full-length 16S rRNA sequencing revealed dynamic shifts in bacterial communities, with an increased bacterial diversity and unique species prevalence in week-2 compared to week-1 and week-3. However, a marked emergence of pathogenic bacteria, including <i>Serratia marcescens</i> and <i>Chryseobacterium indologenes</i>, was observ2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-05-02T03:09:22.56Z2026-05-02T03:07:34.813ZS-EPMC124719204101131310.3390/microorganisms13091982