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Altered Gut Microbiota as an Auxiliary Diagnostic Indicator for Patients With Fracture-Related Infection
Xingqi Zhao1,2, Wenli Tang3, Haoyang Wan1,2
1Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|May 2, 2022
Summary
Specific gut microbiota profiles can help diagnose fracture-related infections (FRI) even without obvious symptoms. This study found distinct fecal microbiome patterns in FRI patients, suggesting its potential as an auxiliary diagnostic tool.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Infectious disease diagnostics
- Orthopedic surgery
Background:
- Preoperative diagnosis of fracture-related infection (FRI) is challenging, particularly in cases lacking clear clinical signs.
- Previous research suggests that gut microbiota composition may serve as a potential biomarker for FRI.
- Understanding the gut microbiome's role could lead to novel diagnostic approaches for FRI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the fecal microbiome composition across fracture-related infection (FRI) patients, fracture-healed (FH) patients, and healthy controls (HC).
- To assess the diagnostic potential of gut microbiota diversity indices and constructed dysbiosis indexes for FRI.
- To investigate the association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and systemic inflammatory factors in FRI patients.
Main Methods:
- Fecal samples were collected from 20 FRI patients, 18 FH patients, and 12 HC individuals.
- Alpha and beta diversity indices were analyzed to characterize fecal microbiome structure.
- Linear discriminant analysis and generalized linear models were used to identify biomarkers and construct dysbiosis indexes.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in alpha and beta diversity were observed among the three groups, with FRI patients exhibiting the lowest alpha diversity.
- Dysbiosis indexes were significantly elevated in the FRI group compared to FH and HC groups (P < 0.001).
- Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the effectiveness of gut microbiota profiles in distinguishing between the groups, irrespective of overt infection signs.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota dysbiosis is characteristic of FRI patients and is associated with systemic inflammation.
- Fecal microbiome analysis, including diversity indices and dysbiosis indexes, can effectively differentiate FRI patients from controls.
- Gut microbiota profiles represent a promising auxiliary diagnostic tool for suspected FRI, even in the absence of sinus tract or pus.
