Respiratory microbiome in mechanically ventilated patients: a narrative review

Lung and gut microbiota profiling in intensive care unit patients: a prospective pilot study

BACKGROUND

The gut and lung microbiomes play crucial roles in host defense and mayserve as predictive markersfor clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. Despite this, the simultaneous dynamics of lung and gut microbiomes during critical illness remain unclear. This study aims to assess the longitudinal changes in lung and gut microbiota among mechanically ventilated ICU patients with and without infection and to identify microbial features predictive of clinical outcomes, including the development of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, we analyzed 73 endotracheal aspirates (ETA) and 93 rectal swabs collected from 38 ICU patients over multiple timepoints (intubation, infection onset, post-antibiotic, and extubation/discharge). Patients were categorized into three groups: (1) VAP, (2) other infections, and (3) uninfected controls. Lung and gut microbiota were characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Primary outcomes included microbial diversity and community composition; secondary outcomes included ICU length of stay and ventilator-free days.

RESULTS

Alpha diversity declined more significantly in infected patients than in controls during the ICU stay, with the most pronounced changes in lung microbiota. We found an enrichment of Enterobacteriaceae and other Proteobacteria in the lung microbiome of pneumonia patients, while the gut microbiota remained relatively stable. Relative abundances of key taxa such as Mogibacterium were associated with mechanical ventilation duration.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that distinct microbial patterns in both lung and gut microbiota are associated with infection and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing targeted microbiota interventions, potentially improving outcomes such as VAP prevention and management.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Ethics Committee of Canton Vaud, Switzerland (2017-01820).

One lung ventilation during thoracoscopic lobectomy alters lung microbiome miversity and composition

Current research indicates that the lungs are not sterile and maintain their own unique microecological balance, which can be disrupted by mechanical ventilation.One-lung ventilation (OLV) induces ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in the non-ventilated lung, a common contributor to acute lung injury during the perioperative period. This study investigates alterations in the pulmonary microbiome following one-lung ventilation during thoracoscopic lobectomy and evaluates the impact of differential microbiota on inflammatory responses. Approved by the Hospital Ethics Committee, this study involved 65 patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy from April 2024 to June 2024. An internally controlled paired analysis was implemented to compare bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) collected from the operative side lung before and after one-lung ventilation. Key outcomes included changes in lung microbiota composition, levels of IL-1β and TNF-α, and the incidence of postoperative complications, with samples preserved for future analysis. Our research revealed significant changes in the abundances of Veillonella, Rothia, Ralstonia, and Melittanglum following one-lung ventilation during thoracoscopic lobectomy. However, there were no notable changes in overall microbial diversity, and alpha diversity remained unchanged. Correspondingly, the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid significantly increased post-OLV, positively correlating with Ralstonia abundance. The operational taxonomic units and species abundances significantly decreased following one-lung ventilation; nevertheless, overall microbial diversity remained stable. In BALF, levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were markedly elevated, with Ralstonia identified as a key pulmonary microbiome agent influencing inflammatory responses after one-lung ventilation.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Biofilm Analysis via Sonication in Intensive Care Unit Patients at a County Emergency Hospital in Romania

Background/Objectives: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a critical challenge in ICU settings, often driven by the biofilm-mediated bacterial colonization of endotracheal tubes (ETTs). This study investigates antimicrobial resistance patterns and biofilm dynamics in ICU patients, focusing on microbial colonization and resistance trends in tracheal aspirates and endotracheal tube biofilms at a county emergency hospital in Romania. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis of ICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h. Tracheal aspirates and ETT biofilms were collected at three key time points: T1 (baseline), T2 (48 h post-intubation with ETT replacement), and T3 (92-100 h post-T2); these were analyzed using sonication and microbiological techniques to assess microbial colonization and antimicrobial resistance patterns. Results: In a total of 30 patients, bacteria from the ESKAPEE group (e.g., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus) dominated the microbiota, increasing their prevalence over time. Resistance to carbapenems, colistin, and vancomycin was notably observed, particularly among K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii. Biofilm analysis revealed high persistence rates and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, underscoring the role of ETTs as reservoirs for resistant pathogens. The replacement of ETTs at T2 correlated with a shift in microbial composition and reduced biofilm-associated contamination. Conclusions: This study highlights the temporal evolution of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm-associated colonization in a limited number of ICU patients (30 patients). The findings support implementing routine ETT management strategies, including scheduled replacements and advanced biofilm-disruption techniques, to mitigate VAP risk and improve patient outcomes.

Beyond the organ: lung microbiome shapes transplant indications and outcomes

The lung microbiome plays a crucial role in the development of chronic lung diseases, which may ultimately lead to the need for lung transplantation. Also, perioperative results seem to be connected with altered lung microbiomes and its dynamic changes providing a possible target for optimizing short-term outcome after transplantation. A literature review using MEDLINE, PubMed Central and Bookshelf was performed. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) seems to be influenced and partly triggered by changes in the pulmonary microbiome and dysbiosis, e.g. through increased bacterial load or abundance of specific species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, the specific indications for transplantation, with their very heterogeneous changes and influences on the pulmonary microbiome, influence long-term outcome. Next to composition and measurable bacterial load, dynamic changes in the allografts microbiome also possess the ability to alter long-term outcomes negatively. This review discusses the "new" microbiome after transplantation and the associations with direct postoperative outcome. With the knowledge of these principles the impact of alterations in the pulmonary microbiome in hindsight to CLAD and possible therapeutic implications are described and discussed. The aim of this review is to summarize the current literature regarding pre- and postoperative lung microbiomes and how they influence different lung diseases on their progression to failure of conservative treatment. This review provides a summary of current literature for centres looking for further options in optimizing lung transplant outcomes and highlights possible areas for further research activities investigating the pulmonary microbiome in connection to transplantation.

Optimization of lung tissue pre-treatment by bead homogenization for subsequent culturomics

The discovery that the lung harbors a diverse microbiome, as revealed by next-generation sequencing, has significantly altered our understanding of respiratory health and disease. Despite the association between the lung microbiota and disease, the nature of their relationship remains poorly understood, and culture isolation of these microorganisms could help to determine their role in lung physiology. Current procedures for processing samples from the lower respiratory tract have been shown to affect the viability of microorganisms, so it is crucial to develop new methods to improve their survival. This study aimed to improve the isolation and characterization of lung microorganisms using a bead-beating homogenization method in a mouse model. Microsphere diameter and bead-beating time affected the survival of the microorganisms (E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans). Using 2.3 mm diameter microspheres for 60 s of bead-beating promoted the survival of both bacteria and yeast strains. After intratracheal instillation of these microorganisms in mice, approximately 70% of the cells were recovered after the tissue homogenization. To assess the efficiency of the proposed method, the diversity of bacteria was compared between the homogenate and lung tissue samples. Ninety-one genera were detected in the lung tissue, and 63 in the homogenate. Bacterial genera detected in the homogenate represented 84% of the total abundance of the microbiota identified in the lung tissue. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the tissue homogenization process developed in this study recovered the majority of the microorganisms present in the lung. This study presents a bead-beating homogenization method for effective cultivation of lung tissue microorganisms, which may help to improve the understanding of host-microbe interactions in the lung.

Modeling "Two-Hit" Severe Pneumonia in Mice: Pathological Characteristics and Mechanistic Studies

Severe pneumonia is one of the most common critical diseases in clinical practice. Existing models for severe pneumonia have limitations, leading to limited clinical translation. In this study, a two-hit severe pneumonia mouse model was established by inducing primary pneumonia through intratracheal instillation of 800 μg lipopolysaccharide (LPS), followed by intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg LPS. The effectiveness of various inflammatory indicators and the lung tissue damage during the time course of this model were confirmed and evaluated. At 3 h post two-hit, the IL-6, TNF-α levels in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in BALF notably exhibited the most pronounced elevation. At 12 h post two-hit, the white blood cells and neutrophils in peripheral blood significantly increased, accompanied by notable alterations in splenic immune cells and worsened pulmonary histopathological damage. Transcriptomics of lung tissue, microbiota analysis of lung and gut, as well as plasma metabolomics analyses further indicated changes in transcriptional profiles, microbial composition, and metabolites due to the two-hit modeling. These results validate that the two-hit model mimics the clinical presentation of severe pneumonia and serves as a robust experimental tool for studying the pathogenesis of severe pneumonia and developing and assessing treatment strategies.

Lung microbiome: new insights into the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases

The lungs were long thought to be sterile until technical advances uncovered the presence of the lung microbial community. The microbiome of healthy lungs is mainly derived from the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome but also has its own characteristic flora. The selection mechanisms in the lung, including clearance by coughing, pulmonary macrophages, the oscillation of respiratory cilia, and bacterial inhibition by alveolar surfactant, keep the microbiome transient and mobile, which is different from the microbiome in other organs. The pulmonary bacteriome has been intensively studied recently, but relatively little research has focused on the mycobiome and virome. This up-to-date review retrospectively summarizes the lung microbiome's history, composition, and function. We focus on the interaction of the lung microbiome with the oropharynx and gut microbiome and emphasize the role it plays in the innate and adaptive immune responses. More importantly, we focus on multiple respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia. The impact of the lung microbiome on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and lung cancer has also been comprehensively studied. Furthermore, by summarizing the therapeutic potential of the lung microbiome in lung diseases and examining the shortcomings of the field, we propose an outlook of the direction of lung microbiome research.

Herpesvirus reactivation in respiratory tract is associated with increased mortality of severe pneumonia patients and their respiratory microbiome dysbiosis

Severe pneumonia (SP) is a respiratory tract disease that seriously threatens human health. The herpesvirus detected in patients, especially with severe and immunodeficient diseases, is gradually attracting the attention of clinical doctors. However, little is known about the effect of herpesvirus on the prognosis of SP patients and the pulmonary microbial community. Here, we retrospectively analyzed respiratory samples from 45 SP patients detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). A total of five types of herpesviruses were detected, with Human alphaherpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) in 19 patients, Human betaherpesvirus 5 (CMV) in 7 patients, Human betaherpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) in 6 patients, Human alphaherpesvirus 2 (HHV-2) in 5 patients, and Human gammaherpesvirus 4 (EBV) in 4 patients. Further analysis showed that the mortality of the herpesvirus-positive group was significantly higher than that of the negative group. The results also showed that HHV-1 was significantly associated with the prognosis of SP patients, while the other herpesviruses did not have a significant difference in patient mortality. A comparison of the microbial community characteristics of SP patients showed a significant difference in beta-diversity between herpesvirus-positive and negative groups. Species difference analysis showed that the herpesvirus-positive group was related to more conditional pathogens, such as Pneumocystis jirovecii and Burkholderia cepacia. In summary, our results suggest that the presence of herpesvirus is associated with the mortality of SP patients. Furthermore, enrichment of conditional pathogens in the respiratory tract of herpesvirus-positive SP patients may be a potential reason for the increased mortality.

The gut-lung axis in critical illness: microbiome composition as a predictor of mortality at day 28 in mechanically ventilated patients

BACKGROUND

Microbial communities are of critical importance in the human host. The lung and gut microbial communities represent the most essential microbiota within the human body, collectively referred to as the gut-lung axis. However, the differentiation between these communities and their influence on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients remains uncertain.

METHODS

An observational cohort study was obtained in the intensive care unit (ICU) of an affiliated university hospital. Sequential samples were procured from two distinct anatomical sites, namely the respiratory and intestinal tracts, at two precisely defined time intervals: within 48 h and on day 7 following intubation. Subsequently, these samples underwent a comprehensive analysis to characterize microbial communities using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and to quantify concentrations of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The primary predictors in this investigation included lung and gut microbial diversity, along with indicator species. The primary outcome of interest was the survival status at 28 days following mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

Sixty-two mechanically ventilated critically ill patients were included in this study. Compared to the survivors, the diversity of microorganisms was significantly lower in the deceased, with a significant contribution from the gut-originated fraction of lung microorganisms. Lower concentrations of fecal SCFAs were detected in the deceased. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that not only lung microbial diversity but also the abundance of Enterococcaceae from the gut were correlated with day 28 mortality.

CONCLUSION

Critically ill patients exhibited lung and gut microbial dysbiosis after mechanical ventilation, as evidenced by a significant decrease in lung microbial diversity and the proliferation of Enterococcaceae in the gut. Levels of fecal SCFAs in the deceased served as a marker of imbalance between commensal and pathogenic flora in the gut. These findings emphasize the clinical significance of microbial profiling in predicting the prognosis of ICU patients.

Robust airway microbiome signatures in acute respiratory failure and hospital-acquired pneumonia

Respiratory microbial dysbiosis is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in critically ill patients. However, we lack reproducible respiratory microbiome signatures that can increase our understanding of these conditions and potential treatments. Here, we analyze 16S rRNA sequencing data from 2,177 respiratory samples collected from 1,029 critically ill patients (21.7% with ARDS and 26.3% with HAP) and 327 healthy controls, sourced from 17 published studies. After data harmonization and pooling of individual patient data, we identified microbiota signatures associated with ARDS, HAP and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Microbiota signatures for HAP and prolonged mechanical ventilation were characterized by depletion of a core group of microbes typical of healthy respiratory samples, and the ARDS microbiota signature was distinguished by enrichment of potentially pathogenic respiratory microbes, including Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. Using machine learning models, we identified clinically informative, three- and four-factor signatures that predicted ARDS, HAP and prolonged mechanical ventilation with relatively high accuracy (area under the curve of 0.751, 0.72 and 0.727, respectively). We validated the signatures in an independent prospective cohort of 136 patients on mechanical ventillation and found that patients with microbiome signatures associated with ARDS, HAP or prolonged mechanical ventilation had longer times to successful extubation than patients lacking these signatures (hazard ratios of 1.56 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-2.27), 1.51 (95% CI 1.02-2.23) and 1.50 (95% CI 1.03-2.18), respectively). Thus, we defined and validated robust respiratory microbiome signatures associated with ARDS and HAP that may help to identify promising targets for microbiome therapeutic modulation in critically ill patients.

Alterations of lower respiratory tract microbiome and short-chain fatty acids in different segments in lung cancer: a multiomics analysis

Introduction

The lower respiratory tract microbiome is widely studied to pinpoint microbial dysbiosis of diversity or abundance that is linked to a number of chronic respiratory illnesses. However, it is vital to clarify how the microbiome, through the release of microbial metabolites, impacts lung health and oncogenesis.

Methods

In order to discover the powerful correlations between microbial metabolites and disease, we collected, under electronic bronchoscopy examinations, samples of paired bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) from tumor-burden lung segments and ipsilateral non-tumor sites from 28 lung cancer participants, further performing metagenomic sequencing, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolomics, and multiomics analysis to uncover the potential correlations of the microbiome and SCFAs in lung cancer.

Results

In comparison to BALFs from normal lung segments of the same participant, those from lung cancer burden lung segments had slightly decreased microbial diversity in the lower respiratory tract. With 18 differentially prevalent microbial species, including the well-known carcinogens Campylobacter jejuni and Nesseria polysaccharea, the relative species abundance in the lower respiratory tract microbiome did not significantly differ between the two groups. Additionally, a collection of commonly recognized probiotic metabolites called short-chain fatty acids showed little significance in either group independently but revealed a strong predictive value when using an integrated model by machine learning. Multiomics also discovered particular species related to SCFAs, showing a positive correlation with Brachyspira hydrosenteriae and a negative one with Pseudomonas at the genus level, despite limited detection in lower airways. Of note, these distinct microbiota and metabolites corresponded with clinical traits that still required confirmation.

Conclusions

Further analysis of metagenome functional capacity revealed that genes encoding environmental information processing and metabolism pathways were enriched in the lower respiratory tract metagenomes of lung cancer patients, further supporting the oncogenesis function of various microbial species by different metabolites. These findings point to a potent relationship between particular components of the integrated microbiota-metabolites network and lung cancer, with implications for screening and diagnosis in clinical settings.

Respiratory Tract Oncobiome in Lung Carcinogenesis: Where Are We Now?

The importance of microbiota in developing and treating diseases, including lung cancer (LC), is becoming increasingly recognized. Studies have shown differences in microorganism populations in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of patients with lung cancer compared to healthy individuals, indicating a link between dysbiosis and lung cancer. However, it is not only important to identify "which bacteria are present" but also to understand "how" they affect lung carcinogenesis. The interactions between the host and lung microbiota are complex, and our knowledge of this relationship is limited. This review presents research findings on the bacterial lung microbiota and discusses the mechanisms by which lung-dwelling microorganisms may directly or indirectly contribute to the development of lung cancer. These mechanisms include influences on the host immune system regulation and the local immune microenvironment, the regulation of oncogenic signaling pathways in epithelial cells (causing cell cycle disorders, mutagenesis, and DNA damage), and lastly, the MAMPs-mediated path involving the effects of bacteriocins, TLRs signaling induction, and TNF release. A better understanding of lung microbiota's role in lung tumor pathology could lead to identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers and developing personalized therapeutic management for lung cancer patients.

General anesthesia alters the diversity and composition of the lung microbiota in rat

BACKGROUND

The lung microbiome plays a crucial role in human health and disease. Extensive studies have demonstrated that the disturbance of the lung microbiome influences immune response, cognition, and behavior. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of general anesthetics on lung microbiome.

METHODS

Eight-week-old male SD rats received a continuous intravenous infusion of propofol or inhalation of isoflurane for 4 h. 16S rRNA gene amplification from BALF samples was used to investigate the changes in the lung microbiome after interventions. We further performed neurobehavioral assessments to find the differential strains' association with behavior disorder after isoflurane anesthesia.

RESULTS

The absolute and relative quantitation of 16S rRNA sequencing data showed that isoflurane altered the diversity and abundance of the lung microbiome in rats more than propofol. Elusimicrobia increased significantly in the isoflurane group. Both EPM and OFT results showed that rats exhibited depression-like behaviors after inhalation of isoflurane. In addition, significant differences were found in the COG/KO/MetaCyc/KEGG pathway enrichment analyses among the groups.

CONCLUSION

Continuous inhalation of isoflurane changed the diversity and composition of the lung microbiota in rats, resulting in post-anesthesia depression.

The respiratory tract microbiome, the pathogen load, and clinical interventions define severity of bacterial pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is a considerable problem worldwide. Here, we follow the inter-kingdom respiratory tract microbiome (RTM) of a unique cohort of 38 hospitalized patients (n = 97 samples) with pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila. The RTM composition is characterized by diversity drops early in hospitalization and ecological species replacement. RTMs with the highest bacterial and fungal loads show low diversity and pathogen enrichment, suggesting high biomass as a biomarker for secondary and/or co-infections. The RTM structure is defined by a "commensal" cluster associated with a healthy RTM and a "pathogen" enriched one, suggesting that the cluster equilibrium drives the microbiome to recovery or dysbiosis. Legionella biomass correlates with disease severity and co-morbidities, while clinical interventions influence the RTM dynamics. Fungi, archaea, and protozoa seem to contribute to progress of pneumonia. Thus, the interplay of the RTM equilibrium, the pathogen load dynamics, and clinical interventions play a critical role in patient recovery.

The gut microbiota composition is linked to subsequent occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent nosocomial infection in critically ill-ventilated patients. Oropharyngeal and lung microbiota have been demonstrated to be associated with VAP occurrence, but the involvement of gut microbiota has not been investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the composition of the gut microbiota between patients who subsequently develop VAP and those who do not. A rectal swab was performed at admission of every consecutive patient into the intensive care unit (ICU) from October 2019 to March 2020. After DNA extraction, V3-V4 and internal transcribed spacer 2 regions deep-sequencing was performed on MiSeq sequencer (Illumina) and data were analyzed using Divisive Amplicon Denoising Algorithm 2 (DADA2) pipeline. Among 255 patients screened, 42 (16%) patients with invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h were included, 18 (43%) with definite VAP and 24 without (57%). Patients who later developed VAP had similar gut bacteriobiota and mycobiota α-diversities compared to those who did not develop VAP. However, gut mycobiota was dissimilar (β-diversity) between these two groups. The presence of Megasphaera massiliensis was associated with the absence of VAP occurrence, whereas the presence of the fungal genus Alternaria sp. was associated with the occurrence of VAP. The composition of the gut microbiota, but not α-diversity, differs between critically ill patients who subsequently develop VAP and those who do not. This study encourages large multicenter cohort studies investigating the role of gut-lung axis and oropharyngeal colonization in the development of VAP in ICU patients. Trial registration number: NCT04131569, date of registration: 18 October 2019. IMPORTANCE The composition of the gut microbiota, but not α-diversity, differs between critically ill patients who subsequently develop ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and those who do not. Investigating gut microbiota composition could help to tailor probiotics to provide protection against VAP.

Lung microbiome and origins of the respiratory diseases

The studies on the composition of the human microbiomes in healthy individuals, its variability in the course of inflammation, infection, antibiotic therapy, diets and different pathological conditions have revealed their intra and inter-kingdom relationships. The lung microbiome comprises of major species members of the phylum Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria, which are distributed in ecological niches along nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, trachea and in the lungs. Commensal and pathogenic species are maintained in equilibrium as they have strong relationships. Bacterial overgrowth after dysbiosis and/or imbalanced of CD4⁺ helper T cells, CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) populations can promote lung inflammatory reactions and distress, and consequently acute and chronic respiratory diseases. This review is aimed to summarize the latest advances in resident lung microbiome and its participation in most common pulmonary infections and pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), immunodeficiency associated pneumonia, SARS-CoV-2-associated pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We briefly describe physiological and immunological mechanisms that selectively create advantages or disadvantages for relative growth of pathogenic bacterial species in the respiratory tract. At the end, we propose some directions and analytical methods that may facilitate the identification of key genera and species of resident and transient microbes involved in the respiratory diseases' initiation and progression.

Methodological comparison of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid-based detection of respiratory pathogens in diagnosis of bacterium/fungus-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients

Background

Bacterium/fungus-associated pneumonia (BAP/FAP) is the prominent cause of high mortality and morbidity with important clinical impacts globally. Effective diagnostic methods and proper specimen types hopefully facilitate early diagnosis of pneumonia and prevent spread of drug-resistant bacteria/fungi among critically ill patients.

Methods

In the present study, 342 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected from critically ill patients with pulmonary infections between November 2020 and March 2021. The BALF materials were comparatively employed to screen BAP/FAP through microscopy, culture, antigenic marker and PCR-based methods. The limit of detection (LOD) of cultures and PCR for bacteria/fungi was determined by serial dilution assays. Specimen slides were prepared with Gram staining for microscopic examinations. Microbial cultures and identifications underwent routine clinical protocols with the aid of mass spectrometry. (1,3)-β-D-glucan and galactomannan tests with BALF were carried out accordingly. Direct detection of pathogens in BALF was achieved through PCR, followed by sequencing and BLAST in GenBank database for pathogenic identification. The subjects' demographic and clinical characteristics were well evaluated.

Results

BAP/FAP was identified in approximately 47% of the subjects by the BALF-based PCR. The PCR-based diagnostic methods showed improved detection performance for fungi with good LOD, but performed similarly for bacteria, when compared to the cultures. There was poor agreement among traditional microscopy, culture and PCR assays for bacterial detections (kappa value, 0.184 to 0.277). For overall bacterial/fungal detections, the microscopy showed the lowest detecting rate, followed by the cultures, which displayed a slightly higher sensitivity than the microscopy did. The sensitivity of PCR was much higher than that of the other means of interest. However, the traditional cultures rather than antigenic marker-based approaches were moderately consistent with the PCR-based methods in fungal species identification, particularly for Candida and Aspergillus spp. Our findings further revealed that the age, length of hospital stay, invasive procedures and cerebral diseases were likely considered as main risk factors for BAP/FAP.

Conclusion

Screening for BALF in critically ill patients with suspected pneumonia pertaining high risk factors using combined PCR-based molecular detection strategies would hopefully contribute to early diagnosis of BAP/FAP and improved prognosis of the patients.

Antibiotic stewardship in the ICU: time to shift into overdrive

Antibiotic resistance is a major health problem and will be probably one of the leading causes of deaths in the coming years. One of the most effective ways to fight against resistance is to decrease antibiotic consumption. Intensive care units (ICUs) are places where antibiotics are widely prescribed, and where multidrug-resistant pathogens are frequently encountered. However, ICU physicians may have opportunities to decrease antibiotics consumption and to apply antimicrobial stewardship programs. The main measures that may be implemented include refraining from immediate prescription of antibiotics when infection is suspected (except in patients with shock, where immediate administration of antibiotics is essential); limiting empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics (including anti-MRSA antibiotics) in patients without risk factors for multidrug-resistant pathogens; switching to monotherapy instead of combination therapy and narrowing spectrum when culture and susceptibility tests results are available; limiting the use of carbapenems to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and new beta-lactams to difficult-to-treat pathogen (when these news beta-lactams are the only available option); and shortening the duration of antimicrobial treatment, the use of procalcitonin being one tool to attain this goal. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should combine these measures rather than applying a single one. ICUs and ICU physicians should be at the frontline for developing antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Understanding the Relationship of the Human Bacteriome with COVID-19 Severity and Recovery

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) first emerged in 2019 in China and has resulted in millions of human morbidities and mortalities across the globe. Evidence has been provided that this novel virus originated in animals, mutated, and made the cross-species jump to humans. At the time of this communication, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may be on its way to an endemic form; however, the threat of the virus is more for susceptible (older and immunocompromised) people. The human body has millions of bacterial cells that influence health and disease. As a consequence, the bacteriomes in the human body substantially influence human health and disease. The bacteriomes in the body and the immune system seem to be in constant association during bacterial and viral infections. In this review, we identify various bacterial spp. In major bacteriomes (oral, nasal, lung, and gut) of the body in healthy humans and compare them with dysbiotic bacteriomes of COVID-19 patients. We try to identify key bacterial spp. That have a positive effect on the functionality of the immune system and human health. These select bacterial spp. Could be used as potential probiotics to counter or prevent COVID-19 infections. In addition, we try to identify key metabolites produced by probiotic bacterial spp. That could have potential anti-viral effects against SARS-CoV-2. These metabolites could be subject to future therapeutic trials to determine their anti-viral efficacies.

Effect of Antibiotic Eye Drops on the Nasal Microbiome in Healthy Subjects—A Pilot Study

Background: Antibiotic eye drops are frequently used in clinical practice. Due to the anatomical connection via the nasolacrimal duct, it seems possible that they have an influence on the nasal/pharyngeal microbiome. This was investigated by using two different commonly used antibiotic eye drops. Methods: 20 subjects were randomized to four groups of five subjects receiving eye drops containing gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, or, as controls, unpreserved povidone or benzalkonium chloride-preserved povidone. Nasal and pharyngeal swabs were performed before and after the instillation period. Swabs were analyzed by Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based 16S rRNA analysis. Bacterial culture was performed on solid media, and bacterial isolates were identified to the species level by MALDI-TOF MS. Species-dependent antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using single isolates and pools of isolates. Results: Bacterial richness in the nose increased numerically from 163 ± 30 to 243 ± 100 OTUs (gentamicin) and from 114 ± 17 to 144 ± 45 OTUs (ciprofloxacin). Phylogenetic diversity index (pd) of different bacterial strains in the nasal microbiome increased from 12.4 ± 1.0 to 16.9 ± 5.6 pd (gentamicin) and from 10.2 ± 1.4 to 11.8 ± 3.1 pd (ciprofloxacin). Unpreserved povidone eye drops resulted in minimal changes in bacterial counts. Preservative-containing povidone eye drops resulted in no change. A minor increase (1–2-fold) in the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was observed in single streptococcal isolates. Conclusions: Antibiotic eye drops could affect the nasal microbiome. After an instillation period of seven days, an increase in the diversity and richness of bacterial strains in the nasal microbiome was observed.

Altered gut microbiota in the early stage of acute pancreatitis were related to the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most common cause of organ failure in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients, which associated with high mortality. Specific changes in the gut microbiota have been shown to influence progression of acute pancreatitis. We aimed to determine whether early alterations in the gut microbiota is related to and could predict ARDS occurrence in AP patients.

Methods

In this study, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing analysis in 65 AP patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The AP patients were further divided into two groups: 26 AP-ARDS patients and 39 AP-nonARDS patients based on ARDS occurrence during hospitalization.

Results

Our results showed that the AP-ARDS patients exhibited specific changes in gut microbiota composition and function as compared to subjects of AP-nonARDS group. Higher abundances of Proteobacteria phylum, Enterobacteriaceae family, Escherichia-Shigella genus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, but lower abundances of Bifidobacterium genus were found in AP-ARDS group compared with AP-nonARDS groups. Random forest modelling analysis revealed that the Escherichia-shigella genus was effective to distinguish AP-ARDS from AP-nonARDS, which could predict ARDS occurrence in AP patients.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that alterations of gut microbiota in AP patients on admission were associated with ARDS occurrence after hospitalization, indicating a potential predictive and pathogenic role of gut microbiota in the development of ARDS in AP patients.

Acquisition of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: epidemiology and risk factors in a 6-year cohort of 507 severe trauma patients

OBJECTIVES

Severe trauma patients are at higher risk of infection and often exposed to antibiotics, which could favor acquisition of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we aimed to assess prevalence, acquisition, and factors associated with acquisition of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (ESCR-GNB) in severe trauma patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective monocentric cohort study in a French level one Regional Trauma Centre between 01 January 2010and 31 December 2015. Patients admitted for ≥ 7 days, with an Injury Severity Score ≥ 15, and ≥ 1 microbiological sample were included in the analysis. Prevalence and acquisition rate of ESCR-GNB were determined then, factors associated with ESCR-GNB acquisition were assessed using a Cox model.

RESULTS

Of 1873 patients admitted during the study period, 507 were included (median Injury Severity Score = 29 [22-34] and median intensive care unit length of stay = 16 days [10-28]). Most of them (450; 89%) had an antimicrobial therapy. Prevalence of ESCR-GNB increased from 13% to 33% during intensive care unit stay, bringing the ESCR-GNB acquisition rate to 29%. Acquisition of ESCR-GNB was mainly related to AmpC beta-lactamase Enterobacterales and was independently associated with mechanical ventilation needs (hazard ratio [HR] = 6.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.51-27.17]; P = 0.01), renal replacement therapy needs (HR = 2.44; 95% CI [1.24-4.79]; P = 0.01), exposure to cephalosporins (HR = 1.06; 95% CI [1.01-1.12]; P = 0.02), and/or combination therapy with non-beta-lactam antibiotics such as vancomycin, linezolid, clindamycin, or metronidazole (HR = 1.03; 95% CI [1.01-1.06]; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Acquisition of ESCR-GNB was prevalent in severe trauma patients. Our results suggest selecting antibiotics with caution, particularly in the most severely ill.

Specific associations between fungi and bacteria in broncho-alveolar aspirates from mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients

The detection of fungi in the human respiratory tract may represent contamination, colonization or a respiratory infection. To develop effective management strategies, a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the lung fungal microbiome is required. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to define the "mycobiome" of mechanically ventilated patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) using broncho-alveolar aspirate ("sputum") samples and correlate this with clinical parameters and the bacterial microbiota. To this end, the mycobiome of 33 sputum samples was analyzed by Internal Transcribed Spacer2 (ITS2) amplicon sequencing of the ribosomal operons. The results show that in the investigated sputa of mechanically ventilated patients Candida spp. were most frequently detected, independent of pneumonia or antimicrobial therapy. The presence of Candida excluded in most cases the presence of Malassezia, which was the second most-frequently encountered fungus. Moreover, a hierarchical clustering of the sequence data indicated a patient-specific mycobiome. Fungi detected by culturing (Candida and Aspergillus) were also detected through ITS2 sequencing, but other yeasts and fungi were only detectable by sequencing. While Candida showed no correlations with identified bacterial groups, the presence of Malassezia and Rhodotorula correlated with oral bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Likewise, Cladosporium correlated with other oral bacteria, whereas Saccharomyces correlated more specifically with dental plaque bacteria and Alternaria with the nasal-throat-resident bacteria Neisseria, Haemophilus and Moraxella. In conclusion, ITS2 sequencing of sputum samples uncovered patient-specific lung mycobiomes, which were only partially detectable by culturing, and which could be correlated to specific nasal-oral-pharyngeal niches.

Alterations in the respiratory tract microbiome in COVID-19: current observations and potential significance

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19 disease, which can result in consequences ranging from undetectable to fatal, focusing attention on the modulators of outcomes. The respiratory tract microbiome is thought to modulate the outcomes of infections such as influenza as well as acute lung injury, raising the question to what degree does the airway microbiome influence COVID-19? Here, we review the results of 56 studies examining COVID-19 and the respiratory tract microbiome, summarize the main generalizations, and point to useful avenues for further research. Although the results vary among studies, a few consistent findings stand out. The diversity of bacterial communities in the oropharynx typically declined with increasing disease severity. The relative abundance of Haemophilus and Neisseria also declined with severity. Multiple microbiome measures tracked with measures of systemic immune responses and COVID outcomes. For many of the conclusions drawn in these studies, the direction of causality is unknown-did an alteration in the microbiome result in increased COVID severity, did COVID severity alter the microbiome, or was some third factor the primary driver, such as medication use. Follow-up mechanistic studies can help answer these questions. Video Abstract.

Effect of invasive mechanical ventilation on the diversity of the pulmonary microbiota

Pulmonary microbial diversity may be influenced by biotic or abiotic conditions (e.g., disease, smoking, invasive mechanical ventilation (MV), etc.). Specially, invasive MV may trigger structural and physiological changes in both tissue and microbiota of lung, due to gastric and oral microaspiration, altered body posture, high O2 inhalation-induced O2 toxicity in hypoxemic patients, impaired airway clearance and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), which in turn reduce the diversity of the pulmonary microbiota and may ultimately lead to poor prognosis. Furthermore, changes in (local) O2 concentration can reduce the diversity of the pulmonary microbiota by affecting the local immune microenvironment of lung. In conclusion, systematic literature studies have found that invasive MV reduces pulmonary microbiota diversity, and future rational regulation of pulmonary microbiota diversity by existing or novel clinical tools (e.g., lung probiotics, drugs) may improve the prognosis of invasive MV treatment and lead to more effective treatment of lung diseases with precision.

Bacterial and fungal communities in tracheal aspirates of intubated COVID-19 patients: a pilot study

Co-infections with bacterial or fungal pathogens could be associated with severity and outcome of disease in COVID-19 patients. We, therefore, used a 16S and ITS-based sequencing approach to assess the biomass and composition of the bacterial and fungal communities in endotracheal aspirates of intubated COVID-19 patients. Our method combines information on bacterial and fungal biomass with community profiling, anticipating the likelihood of a co-infection is higher with (1) a high bacterial and/or fungal biomass combined with (2) predominance of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. We tested our methods on 42 samples from 30 patients. We observed a clear association between microbial outgrowth (high biomass) and predominance of individual microbial species. Outgrowth of pathogens was in line with the selective pressure of antibiotics received by the patient. We conclude that our approach may help to monitor the presence and predominance of pathogens and therefore the likelihood of co-infections in ventilated patients, which ultimately, may help to guide treatment.

Incidence of Postoperative Pneumonia and Oral Microbiome for Patients with Cancer Operation

Postoperative pneumonia is a serious problem for patients and medical staff. In Japan, many hospitals introduced perioperative oral care management for the efficient use of medical resources. However, a high percentage of postoperative pneumonia still developed. Therefore, there is a need to identify the specific respiratory pathogens to predict the incidence of pneumonia The purpose of this study was to find out the candidate of bacterial species for the postoperative pneumonia. This study applied case-control study design for the patients who had a cancer operation with or without postoperative pneumonia. A total of 10 patients undergoing a cancer operation under general anesthesia participated in this study. The day before a cancer operation, preoperative oral care management was applied. Using the next generation sequence, oral microbiome of these patients was analyzed at the time of their first visit, the day before and after a cancer operation. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum group can be a high risk at first visit. Atopobium parvulum and Enterococcus faecalis before a cancer operation can be a high risk. Poor oral hygiene increased the risk of incidence of postoperative pneumonia. Increased periodontal pathogens can be a high risk of the incidence of postoperative pneumonia. In addition, increased intestinal bacteria after oral care management can also be a high risk for the incidence of postoperative pneumonia.

Altered Ecology of the Respiratory Tract Microbiome and Nosocomial Pneumonia

Nosocomial pneumonia is one of the most frequent infections in critical patients. It is primarily associated with mechanical ventilation leading to severe illness, high mortality, and prolonged hospitalization. The risk of mortality has increased over time due to the rise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections, which represent a global public health threat. Respiratory tract microbiome (RTM) research is growing, and recent studies suggest that a healthy RTM positively stimulates the immune system and, like the gut microbiome, can protect against pathogen infection through colonization resistance (CR). Physiological conditions of critical patients and interventions as antibiotics administration and mechanical ventilation dramatically alter the RTM, leading to dysbiosis. The dysbiosis of the RTM of ICU patients favors the colonization by opportunistic and resistant pathogens that can be part of the microbiota or acquired from the hospital environments (biotic or built ones). Despite recent evidence demonstrating the significance of RTM in nosocomial infections, most of the host-RTM interactions remain unknown. In this context, we present our perspective regarding research in RTM altered ecology in the clinical environment, particularly as a risk for acquisition of nosocomial pneumonia. We also reflect on the gaps in the field and suggest future research directions. Moreover, expected microbiome-based interventions together with the tools to study the RTM highlighting the "omics" approaches are discussed.

Critically ill patients with COVID-19 show lung fungal dysbiosis with reduced microbial diversity in Candida spp colonized patients

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified interest in how the infection affects the lung microbiome of critically ill patients and how it contributes to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to characterize the lower respiratory tract mycobiome of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in comparison to patients without COVID-19.

Methods

We performed an internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) profiling with the Illumina MiSeq platform on 26 respiratory specimens from patients with COVID-19 as well as from 26 patients with non–COVID-19 pneumonia.

Results

Patients with COVID-19 were more likely to be colonized with Candida spp. ARDS was associated with lung dysbiosis characterized by a shift to Candida species colonization and a decrease of fungal diversity. We also observed higher bacterial phylogenetic distance among taxa in colonized patients with COVID-19. In patients with COVID-19 not colonized with Candida spp., ITS2 amplicon sequencing revealed an increase of Ascomycota unassigned spp. and 1 Aspergillus spp.–positive specimen. In addition, we found that corticosteroid therapy was frequently associated with positive Galactomannan cell wall component of Aspergillus spp. among patients with COVID-19.

Conclusion

Our study underpins that ARDS in patients with COVID-19 is associated with lung dysbiosis and that an increased density of Ascomycota unassigned spp. is present in patients not colonized with Candida spp.

Potential role of gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19, its relationship with lung axis, central nervous system (CNS) axis, and improvement with probiotic therapy

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease caused by a new corona virus. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. COVID-19 could affect the gastrointestinal system via gut microbiota impairment. Gut microbiota could affect lung health through a relationship between gut and lung microbiota, which is named gut-lung axis. Gut microbiota impairment plays a role in pathogenesis of various pulmonary disease states, so GI diseases were found to be associated with respiratory diseases. Moreover, most infected people will develop mild to moderate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomachache, which is caused by impairment in gut microbiota. Therefore, the current study aimed to review potential role of gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19, its relation with lung axis, Central Nervous System (CNS) axis and improvement with probiotic therapy. Also, this review can be a guide for potential role of gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19.

New Insights in the Pathophysiology of Hospital- and Ventilator-Acquired Pneumonia: A Complex Interplay between Dysbiosis and Critical-Illness-Related Immunosuppression

Both hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) have long been considered as diseases resulting from the invasion by pathogens of a previously sterile lung environment. Based on this historical understanding of their pathophysiology, our approaches for the prevention and treatment have significantly improved the outcomes of patients, but treatment failures remain frequent. Recent studies have suggested that the all-antimicrobial therapy-based treatment of pneumonia has reached a glass ceiling. The demonstration that the constant interactions between the respiratory microbiome and mucosal immunity are required to tune homeostasis in a state of symbiosis has changed our comprehension of pneumonia. We proposed that HAP and VAP should be considered as a state of dysbiosis, defined as the emergence of a dominant pathogen thriving at the same time from the catastrophic collapse of the fragile ecosystem of the lower respiratory tract and from the development of critical-illness-related immunosuppression. This multidimensional approach to the pathophysiology of HAP and VAP holds the potential to achieve future successes in research and critical care. Microbiome and mucosal immunity can indeed be manipulated and used as adjunctive therapies or targets to prevent or treat pneumonia.

Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia/Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis in COVID-19

Although few studies evaluated the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis in COVID-19 patients, several studies evaluated the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in these patients. Based on the results of a large multicenter European study, VAP incidence is higher in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (36.1%), as compared with those with influenza pneumonia (22.2%), or no viral infection at intensive care unit (ICU) admission (16.5%). Potential explanation for the high incidence of VAP in COVID-19 patients includes long duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, high incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and immune-suppressive treatment. Specific risk factors for VAP, including SARS-CoV-2-related pulmonary lesions, and bacteria-virus interaction in lung microbiota might also play a role in VAP pathogenesis. VAP is associated with increased mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay in COVID-19 patients. Further studies should focus on the incidence of HAP especially in ICU non-ventilated patients, better determine the pathophysiology of these infections, and evaluate the accuracy of currently available treatment guidelines in COVID-19 patients.

The 16S rRNA lung microbiome in mechanically ventilated patients: a methodological study

PURPOSE

Characterization of the respiratory tract bacterial microbiome is in its infancy when compared to the gut microbiota. To limit bias mandates a robust methodology. Specific amplification of the hypervariable (V) region of the 16SrRNA gene is a crucial step. Differences in accuracy exist for one V region to another depending on the sampled environment. We aimed to assess the impact of the primer sequences targeting the V4 region currently used for gut microbiota studies in respiratory samples. Materials and methods: The original 515 F-806R primer pair targets the V4 region of the 16SrRNA gene. We compared two different 515 F-806R primer pairs before Illumina 250 paired-end sequencing for bacterial microbiome analyses of respiratory samples from critically-ill ventilated patients. "S-V4" for "Stringent V4" primer pair is used in two ongoing international projects "the Integrative Human microbiome project (iHMP)" and "the Earth microbiome project (EMP)." "R-V4" for "Relaxed V4" primer pair has been modified to reduce biases against specific environmental taxa. The optimal method was determined by concordance with conventional microbiology. Results: Twenty samples from three patients who developed a ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and four who did not (control ventilated patients) were sequenced. Highly different results were obtained. "S-V4" provided the best agreement with the conventional microbiology for endotracheal aspirate: 89% as compared to 56% for "R-V4." The main difference related to poor Enterobacteriaceae detection with "R-V4" primers. Conclusions: Accuracy of the bacterial lung microbiome composition was highly dependent on the primers used for amplification of the 16 s rRNA hypervariable sequence. This work validates for future lung microbiome studies the use of the 515 F-806R "S-V4" primer pair associated to Illumina® MiSeq paired-end sequencing.

Lung Microbiome in Critically Ill Patients

The historical hypothesis of sterility of the lungs was invalidated over a decade ago when studies demonstrated the existence of sparse but very diverse bacterial populations in the normal lung and the association between pulmonary dysbiosis and chronic respiratory diseases. Under mechanical ventilation, dysbiosis occurs rapidly with a gradual decline in diversity over time and the progressive predominance of a bacterial pathogen (mainly Proteobacteria) when lung infection occurs. During acute respiratory distress syndrome, an enrichment in bacteria of intestinal origin, mainly Enterobacteriaceae, is observed. However, the role of this dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome is not yet fully understood. The lack of exploration of other microbial populations, viruses (eukaryotes and prokaryotes) and fungi is a key issue. Further analysis of the interaction between these microbial kingdoms and a better understanding of the host−microbiome interaction are necessary to fully elucidate the role of the microbiome in the pathogenicity of acute diseases. The validation of a consensual and robust methodology in order to make the comparison of the different studies relevant is also required. Filling these different gaps should help develop preventive and therapeutic strategies for both acute respiratory distress syndrome and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Dysbiosis and structural disruption of the respiratory microbiota in COVID-19 patients with severe and fatal outcomes

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused over three million deaths worldwide. Understanding the pathology of the disease and the factors that drive severe and fatal clinical outcomes is of special relevance. Studying the role of the respiratory microbiota in COVID-19 is especially important as the respiratory microbiota is known to interact with the host immune system, contributing to clinical outcomes in chronic and acute respiratory diseases. Here, we characterized the microbiota in the respiratory tract of patients with mild, severe, or fatal COVID-19, and compared it to healthy controls and patients with non-COVID-19-pneumonia. We comparatively studied the microbial composition, diversity, and microbiota structure between the study groups and correlated the results with clinical data. We found differences in the microbial composition for COVID-19 patients, healthy controls, and non-COVID-19 pneumonia controls. In particular, we detected a high number of potentially opportunistic pathogens associated with severe and fatal levels of the disease. Also, we found higher levels of dysbiosis in the respiratory microbiota of patients with COVID-19 compared to the healthy controls. In addition, we detected differences in diversity structure between the microbiota of patients with mild, severe, and fatal COVID-19, as well as the presence of specific bacteria that correlated with clinical variables associated with increased risk of mortality. In summary, our results demonstrate that increased dysbiosis of the respiratory tract microbiota in patients with COVID-19 along with a continuous loss of microbial complexity structure found in mild to fatal COVID-19 cases may potentially alter clinical outcomes in patients. Taken together, our findings identify the respiratory microbiota as a factor potentially associated with the severity of COVID-19.

IFN-γ Drives TNF-α Hyperproduction and Lethal Lung Inflammation during Antibiotic Treatment of Postinfluenza Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia

Inflammatory cytokine storm is a known cause for acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this study, we have investigated the role of IFN-γ in lethal lung inflammation using a mouse model of postinfluenza methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. To mimic the clinical scenario, animals were treated with antibiotics for effective bacterial control following MRSA superinfection. However, antibiotic therapy alone is not sufficient to improve survival of wild-type animals in this lethal acute respiratory distress syndrome model. In contrast, antibiotics induce effective protection in mice deficient in IFN-γ response. Mechanistically, we show that rather than inhibiting bacterial clearance, IFN-γ promotes proinflammatory cytokine response to cause lethal lung damage. Neutralization of IFN-γ after influenza prevents hyperproduction of TNF-α, and thereby protects against inflammatory lung damage and animal mortality. Taken together, the current study demonstrates that influenza-induced IFN-γ drives a stepwise propagation of inflammatory cytokine response, which ultimately results in fatal lung damage during secondary MRSA pneumonia, despite of antibiotic therapy.

Prophylactic application of antibiotics selects extended-spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemases producing Gram-negative bacteria in the oral cavity

Prophylactic administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics in surgery can change the oral microbiome and induce colonization of oral cavity with Gram-negative bacteria including multidrug (MDR) or extensively drug resistant (XDR) organisms which can lead to lower respiratory tract infections. The aim of the study was to analyse the Gram-negative isolates obtained from oral cavity of the mechanically ventilated patients in ICUs, after prophylactic application of antibiotics and their resistance mechanisms and to compare them with the isolates obtained from tracheal aspirates from the same patients. The antibiotic susceptibility was determined by broth dilution method. PCR was applied to detect genes encoding β-lactamases. Marked diversity of Gram-negative bacteria and resistance mechanisms was found. High resistance rates and high rate of bla_CTX-M and carbapenemase encoding genes (bla_VIM-1 , bla_OXA-48 ) were found among Klebsiella pneumoniae. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to harbour bla_VIM and in one strain bla_PER-1 gene, whereas Acinetobacter baumannii produced OXA-23-like and OXA-24/40-like oxacillinases and was XDR in all except one case. All XDR isolates belong to international clonal lineage II (IC II). The main finding of the study is that the prophlylactic application of antibiotics in surgery intensive care units (ICUs) is associated with the colonization of oral cavity and lower respiratory tract with Gram-negative bacteria. The identity of Gram-negative bacteria in oral cavity reflected those found in endotracheal aspirates leading to conclusion that oral swab as non-invasive specimen can predict the colonization of lower respiratory tract with resistant Gram-negative organisms and the risk for development of ventilator-associated pneumonia.