Here, the investigators propose to study host responses to reduced microbiome complexity driven by treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics in patients with severe infections or sepsis. The proposal aims to combine holistic approaches with emerging experimental technologies to investigate the complex interactions between the gut microbiota and its host and assess the impact of specific bacterial communities on longevity and stress responses. A strong focus of this study will also be placed on microbiome dysbiosis and secondary impacts on short- and long-term brain dysfunction using clinical, laboratory and imaging procedures.
Age ≥ 18 years
One of the following criteria
Critically ill patients treated with meropenem or piperacillin/tazobactam started within the last 72 h
Critically ill patients without systemic antimicrobial therapy within the last 72 hours and an expected ICU length of stay of more than 3 days
Inflammatory bowel disease
Major bowel resection
Selective decontamination of the oral and digestive tract
Oral vancomycin therapy
Jena University Hospital
Lead sponsor
University of Jena
Collaborator