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Updated: Aug 8, 2025
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Murine Oropharyngeal Aspiration Model of Ventilator-associated and Hospital-acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
Published on: June 28, 2018
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Changes in upper airways microbiota in ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Laura Alagna1, Leonardo Mancabelli2,3, Federico Magni4
1Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. laura.alagna@policlinico.mi.it.
Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
|March 2, 2023
Summary
Mechanically ventilated patients who developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) had lower upper airway microbial diversity at intubation compared to those who did not. This finding suggests a potential link between initial airway microbiota and VAP risk.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- The relationship between upper airway microbiota and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated (MV) patients remains unclear.
- Understanding this association is crucial for developing preventative strategies against VAP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of upper airway microbiota in MV patients who developed VAP versus those who did not.
- To explore the temporal variations in microbiota composition over the course of mechanical ventilation.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study analyzing endotracheal aspirates from MV patients.
- 16S-rRNA gene profiling was used to assess microbiota composition at intubation (T0) and 72 hours (T3).
- Comparison between VAP cases and matched non-VAP (NO-VAP) controls.
Main Results:
- VAP patients exhibited significantly lower microbial diversity in upper airways at intubation compared to NO-VAP controls (p < 0.012).
- Both groups showed a decrease in microbial diversity from T0 to T3.
- Specific bacterial genera were lost or became predominant in VAP patients by T3, but the causal relationship remains undetermined.
Conclusions:
- Reduced microbial diversity in the upper airways at the time of intubation may be associated with an increased risk of VAP in MV patients.
- Further research is needed to elucidate whether VAP causes dysbiosis or if pre-existing dysbiosis contributes to VAP development.
Keywords:
16S-rRNA microbial profilingCohort studyMechanical ventilationUpper airways microbiotaVAPVentilator-associated pneumoniaMore Related Videos
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