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The lung microbiome in patients with pneumocystosis

J Kehrmann1, B Veckollari2, D Schmidt2

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany. jan.kehrmann@uk-essen.de.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine
|December 6, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The lower respiratory tract microbiome in critically ill patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) shows no significant differences in composition or diversity compared to those without PCP. The lung microbiota is highly variable and not dominated by specific bacterial species.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a severe opportunistic fungal infection.
  • PCP significantly increases morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Understanding the respiratory microbiome in PCP is crucial for critically ill patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze and compare the lower respiratory tract microbiome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with and without PCP.
  • To identify potential microbial signatures associated with pneumocystosis in mechanically ventilated patients.

Main Methods:

  • Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid was collected from 65 intubated ICU patients (34 PCP+ and 31 PCP-).
  • Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3/V4 regions) was performed using Illumina MiSeq.
  • Microbiome composition and diversity were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant differences in microbial composition were found between PCP+ and PCP- patients at various taxonomic levels (class, order, family, genus).
  • Alpha and beta diversity metrics did not reveal significant variations between the two groups.
  • Lung microbiota composition was highly variable within PCP+ patients and comparable to the heterogeneity observed in PCP- patients.

Conclusions:

  • The lower respiratory tract microbiome in patients with pneumocystosis is not characterized by a specific microbial composition.
  • There is no evidence that a single bacterial species dominates the lung microbiota in PCP patients.
  • These findings suggest that the respiratory microbiome composition is not a primary determinant of pneumocystosis in critically ill patients.
Keywords:
Pneumocystis jiroveciiPneumocystosisPulmonary microbiome

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