Gut Microbiome-Based Therapeutics in Critically Ill Adult Patients-A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Gut microbiota dysbiosis is prevalent in critically ill patients.
• Restoring gut microbiota homeostasis is a potential therapeutic strategy.
• Microbiome-based therapies aim to improve outcomes in critical illness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficacy and limitations of microbiome-based therapeutics in critically ill adult patients.
• To explore applications in conditions like ventilator-associated pneumonia, sepsis, ARDS, and COVID-19.
• To guide the selection of optimal gut microbiota-related treatments for specific critical illnesses.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature.
• Analysis of curative effects and limitations of microbiome-based interventions.
• Synthesis of evidence for various critically ill patient populations.

Main Results:

• Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), selective digestive decontamination (SDD), and microbiota-derived therapies show promise.
• Treatment effectiveness varies depending on the specific critical illness.
• Further evidence is required to optimize treatment selection.

Conclusions:

• Microbiome-based therapeutics represent a promising avenue for critical care.
• Personalized approaches are needed to tailor treatments to individual patient conditions.
• Continued research is essential to refine gut microbiota-targeted interventions.