Early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality

Abstract Background Critical illness is associated with an altered gut microbiota, yet its association with poor outcomes remains unclear. This study evaluates the early gut microbiota diversity changes in intensive care unit patients and its association with mortality. Additionally, it explores fec...

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Main Authors: Hannah Wozniak, Nadia Gaïa, Vladimir Lazarevic, Christophe Le Terrier, Tal Sarah Beckmann, Eleonora Balzani, Martin Urner, Jérôme Pugin, Jacques Schrenzel, Claudia-Paula Heidegger, Gut Microbiota working group
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-11-01
Series:Annals of Intensive Care
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-024-01407-x
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author Hannah Wozniak
Nadia Gaïa
Vladimir Lazarevic
Christophe Le Terrier
Tal Sarah Beckmann
Eleonora Balzani
Martin Urner
Jérôme Pugin
Jacques Schrenzel
Claudia-Paula Heidegger
Gut Microbiota working group
author_facet Hannah Wozniak
Nadia Gaïa
Vladimir Lazarevic
Christophe Le Terrier
Tal Sarah Beckmann
Eleonora Balzani
Martin Urner
Jérôme Pugin
Jacques Schrenzel
Claudia-Paula Heidegger
Gut Microbiota working group
author_sort Hannah Wozniak
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Critical illness is associated with an altered gut microbiota, yet its association with poor outcomes remains unclear. This study evaluates the early gut microbiota diversity changes in intensive care unit patients and its association with mortality. Additionally, it explores fecal pH as a potential biomarker for these changes. Methods In this prospective observational cohort study, fecal samples were collected at two time points: S1, the first stool passed upon intensive care unit admission, and S2, the first stool passed at least 24 h after S1. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for gut microbiota analysis, with α-diversity measured using the Shannon index. Bayesian joint models were used to estimate the association between time-varying changes in gut microbiota diversity and 60-day mortality, as well as the association between daily changes in stool pH and in diversity. Results Twenty-four of 96 patients overall died during follow-up. Daily Shannon index decreased on average by −0.1 points [95% Credible Intervals (CrI) −0.20 to −0.10]. Every point decrease in Shannon index was associated with a 1.99-fold increase in the hazard of death (95% CrI, 1.04 to 4.51). Time-varying fecal pH levels were not associated with changes in Shannon index. Conclusions Gut microbiota diversity decreased over time, associated with increased mortality. Fecal pH is an unreliable marker of gut microbiota change. Future studies on gut microbiota and related biomarkers should focus on the initial days in the intensive care unit to detect and mitigate a decline in gut microbiota diversity.
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spelling doaj-art-46f6ef0bc5064e9a87a1990eefbe26bd2025-08-20T02:38:35ZengSpringerOpenAnnals of Intensive Care2110-58202024-11-011411910.1186/s13613-024-01407-xEarly reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortalityHannah Wozniak0Nadia Gaïa1Vladimir Lazarevic2Christophe Le Terrier3Tal Sarah Beckmann4Eleonora Balzani5Martin Urner6Jérôme Pugin7Jacques Schrenzel8Claudia-Paula Heidegger9Gut Microbiota working groupIntensive Care Unit, Department of Acute Medicine, Geneva University HospitalsGenomic Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Geneva UniversityGenomic Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Geneva UniversityIntensive Care Unit, Department of Acute Medicine, Geneva University HospitalsIntensive Care Unit, Department of Acute Medicine, Geneva University HospitalsInterdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of TorontoInterdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of TorontoIntensive Care Unit, Department of Acute Medicine, Geneva University HospitalsGenomic Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Geneva UniversityIntensive Care Unit, Department of Acute Medicine, Geneva University HospitalsAbstract Background Critical illness is associated with an altered gut microbiota, yet its association with poor outcomes remains unclear. This study evaluates the early gut microbiota diversity changes in intensive care unit patients and its association with mortality. Additionally, it explores fecal pH as a potential biomarker for these changes. Methods In this prospective observational cohort study, fecal samples were collected at two time points: S1, the first stool passed upon intensive care unit admission, and S2, the first stool passed at least 24 h after S1. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for gut microbiota analysis, with α-diversity measured using the Shannon index. Bayesian joint models were used to estimate the association between time-varying changes in gut microbiota diversity and 60-day mortality, as well as the association between daily changes in stool pH and in diversity. Results Twenty-four of 96 patients overall died during follow-up. Daily Shannon index decreased on average by −0.1 points [95% Credible Intervals (CrI) −0.20 to −0.10]. Every point decrease in Shannon index was associated with a 1.99-fold increase in the hazard of death (95% CrI, 1.04 to 4.51). Time-varying fecal pH levels were not associated with changes in Shannon index. Conclusions Gut microbiota diversity decreased over time, associated with increased mortality. Fecal pH is an unreliable marker of gut microbiota change. Future studies on gut microbiota and related biomarkers should focus on the initial days in the intensive care unit to detect and mitigate a decline in gut microbiota diversity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-024-01407-xCritical careGut microbiotaPatients’ outcome
spellingShingle Hannah Wozniak
Nadia Gaïa
Vladimir Lazarevic
Christophe Le Terrier
Tal Sarah Beckmann
Eleonora Balzani
Martin Urner
Jérôme Pugin
Jacques Schrenzel
Claudia-Paula Heidegger
Gut Microbiota working group
Early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality
Annals of Intensive Care
Critical care
Gut microbiota
Patients’ outcome
title Early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality
title_full Early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality
title_fullStr Early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality
title_full_unstemmed Early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality
title_short Early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality
title_sort early reduction in gut microbiota diversity in critically ill patients is associated with mortality
topic Critical care
Gut microbiota
Patients’ outcome
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-024-01407-x
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