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Antibiotic-Induced Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis Aggravates Cerebral Injury During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Kangmei Shao1,2, Jian Li3, Xueyang Shen1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.

Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions : Official Journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions
|May 14, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Antibiotic use during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may worsen brain injury by disrupting the gut microbiome. This study links antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis to increased cerebral damage in ECMO patients.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treats cardiopulmonary failure but risks severe complications like cerebral injury.
  • Gut microbiome dysbiosis is a potential consequence of antibiotic administration in critically ill patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between antibiotic-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis and cerebral injury in rats undergoing ECMO treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed gut microbiome composition changes post-antibiotic treatment.
  • Assessed brain tissue pathology (H&E, Nissl staining) and measured serum biomarkers (S100β, NSE) in rat ECMO models.
  • Evaluated neuroinflammation and microglial activation via immunofluorescence and cytokine analysis.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotic treatment induced significant gut microbiome dysbiosis.
  • Both ECMO and ECMO with antibiotics (ECMO-ABX) groups showed cerebral injury compared to sham.
  • The ECMO-ABX group exhibited elevated S100β, NSE, and markers of microglial activation, indicating exacerbated cerebral injury.

Conclusions:

  • Cerebral injury is a complication of ECMO.
  • Antibiotic-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis may worsen ECMO-associated cerebral injury.
Keywords:
cerebral injuryextracorporeal membrane oxygenationgut microbiome dysbiosismicroglianeuroinflammation

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