Gut microbiota alterations in critically ill older patients: a multicenter study.

Background: Aging generates changes in the gut microbiota, affecting its functionality. Little is known about gut microbiota in critically ill older adults. The objective of this study was to describe the profile of gut microbiota in a cohort of critically ill older adults.

Stool Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis.

To determine the concentration of stool short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in critically ill patients with sepsis and to compare the results between the critically ill patient and the control group. This descriptive, multicenter, observational study was conducted in five health institutions. Over a 6-month study period, critically ill patients with sepsis who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled, and a control, paired by age and sex, was recruited for each patient.

Gut microbiota profiles in critically ill patients, potential biomarkers and risk variables for sepsis.

Critically ill patients are physiologically unstable and recent studies indicate that the intestinal microbiota could be involved in the health decline of such patients during ICU stays. This study aims to assess the intestinal microbiota in critically ill patients with and without sepsis and to determine its impact on outcome variables, such as medical complications, ICU stay time, and mortality. A multi-center study was conducted with a total of 250 peri-rectal swabs obtained from 155 patients upon admission and during ICU stays.