Study of the intestinal microbiota in immunocompromised patients

In immunocompromised patients, the influence of microbiological host factors, particularly the patients’ gut microbiome on the course of colonization with multi-resistant bacteria like ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), is largely unknown. Recent studies indicate that oncological therapy, antibiotic treatment and presence of inflammation lead to a shift in the microbial composition in the gut and, thus, facilitate bloodstream infections and horizontal gene transfer. The present study aims to further elucidate the underlying processes in a longitudinal cohort study of hematological high risk patients.