The microbiome of kidney stones and urine of patients with nephrolithiasis

In a observational single centre study, we investigated the microbiome of kidney stones and urine, to determine the role of bacterial composition for different stone types, recurrent stone formation but also post-operative complications. Moreover, we correlated the microbiome of stones and respective urine with clinical data focusing on features of metabolic syndrome. The characterization of microbiome in patients with nephrolithiasis can help to guide therapy decisions with antibiotics in order to prevent recurrent stone disease, post-operative complications and inappropriate or extensive antibiotic treatment.Results/Conclusion: Patients with bacteria in their kidney stones had a longer postoperative stay than patients without detectable bacteria. Stones of patients with features of metabolic syndrome were characterized by a significant enrichment of classical gastrointestinal bacteria. Understanding the role of these bacteria in stone formation may help to prevent postoperative complications, advice preventions, and novel therapeutic strategies.Sequencing was performed at the Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna under the project ID JMF-2102-05.