Deciphering gut microbiota in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

Abstract

Introduction Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with susceptibility to sepsis and poor outcomes. However, changes to the intestinal microbiota during sepsis and their value as biomarkers are unclear. In this study, we compared the intestinal microbiota of patients with sepsis and healthy controls. Methods Stool was collected from patients with sepsis (subdivided according to mortality) and controls. Microbiome diversity and composition were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. The α-diversity of the intestinal microbiome was determined using operational taxonomic unit (OTU) counts and the Chao1, Shannon, and ACE indices. Adjusted Cox regression analyses assessed 6-month mortality risk factors. Results Fifty-nine patients (14 in-hospital deaths) and 29 healthy controls were enrolled. OTU counts and Chao1 and ACE indices were lower in the non-survivor than in the other groups. The controls showed a higher Shannon and lower Simpson index than did the sepsis group. The genus Blautia was more abundant in controls than in the sepsis group, and Faecalibacterium less abundant in the non-survivor than in the other groups. Regression analysis associated low Shannon index with 6-month mortality. Conclusions Survivors of sepsis, non-survivors, and healthy controls have different gut microbiomes, and a low Shannon index is a risk factor for 6-month mortality.

Investigation of Gut Microbiota Disorders in Sepsis and Sepsis Complicated with Acute Gastrointestinal Injury Based on 16S rRNA Genes Illumina Sequencing

“… 24 Previous studies have found that the diversity and evenness of gut microbiota in sepsis group are lower than that in healthy control group. 25 , 26 In this study, shannon, simpson and shannoneven indices suggested that the diversity and evenness of gut microbiota in sepsis group were lower than that in healthy control group, which is consistent with previous reports. Among the organ dysfunction caused by sepsis, the gut is one of the most vulnerable organs.…”

Relationship of Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Oral and Intestinal Microbiota: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

“…The liver and intestinal microbiomes have a close bidirectional relationship [37], and dysbiosis occurs in patients with liver cancer [38]. Moreover, the Shannon Index, which shows the diversity of the intestinal microflora, decrease owing to dysbiosis [39]. The Shannon index was lower in the MASH-HCC group than in the MASH group in this study.…”