Altered gut microbiota composition and its clinical correlations in patients with severe pneumonia: a single-center
Nan Ni1, Zhiming Jiang2, Quanzhen Wang2
1Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Abstract:
Severe pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is frequently accompanied by alterations in the gut microbiota. To explore the characteristics of the gut microbiota in these patients, we conducted an observational study comparing 38 patients with severe pneumonia to 34 healthy participants. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to profile their gut microbiota and analyze its correlation with clinical parameters. Our results show a significant dysbiosis in the gut microbiota of severe pneumonia patients, characterized by reduced diversity and notable shifts in microbial composition. Specifically, the study revealed an increase in potentially harmful bacteria like Enterococcus and a decrease in potentially beneficial bacteria such as Megamonas and Faecalibacterium. Functional analysis showed an upregulation of pathways for Staphylococcus aureus infection and valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation in the severe pneumonia group compared to the healthy control group. Furthermore, our analysis found positive correlations between certain bacteria and clinical indicators. Megamonas abundance correlated positively with prealbumin levels, a marker of nutritional status. Bifidobacterium showed a positive correlation with white blood cell (WBC) count, and Blautia was positively correlated with the duration of mechanical ventilation. These findings suggest that gut microbiota dysbiosis may play a role in the progression of severe pneumonia, highlighting the potential for targeted therapies in this patient population.
Insights
Severe pneumonia patients exhibit gut microbiota dysbiosis, with reduced diversity and altered bacterial composition. This gut microbiome imbalance may influence disease progression and offers potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Intensive Care Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Severe pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is often linked to gut microbiota changes.
- Understanding these gut microbiome alterations is crucial for managing critical illness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the gut microbiota composition and diversity in severe pneumonia patients.
- To investigate the correlation between gut microbiota and clinical parameters in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Observational study comparing 38 severe pneumonia patients with 34 healthy controls.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing for gut microbiota profiling.
- Correlation analysis with clinical indicators.
Main Results:
- Severe pneumonia patients displayed significant gut dysbiosis, marked by reduced microbial diversity.
- Increased abundance of Enterococcus and decreased levels of beneficial bacteria (Megamonas, Faecalibacterium) were observed.
- Correlations found between specific bacteria (Megamonas, Bifidobacterium, Blautia) and clinical markers (prealbumin, WBC count, ventilation duration).
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota dysbiosis is a feature of severe pneumonia in ICU patients.
- Microbial shifts correlate with clinical status, suggesting a role in disease progression.
- Targeted gut microbiota interventions may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for severe pneumonia.
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