The roles and potential clinical implications of gut microbiome in sepsis

Abstract

Pronounced dysbiosis in the gut microbiome is common among sepsis patients, resulting in aggravation of the disease. This disturbance not only impacts gut integrity but also initiates localized immune responses that may progress to systemic inflammation. This review explores recent discoveries regarding the dysregulation of the gut microbiome, alterations in gut permeability, and disruptions in intestinal immune responses that occur during sepsis. In addition, we discuss innovative therapeutic strategies, encompassing the impacts of metabolites derived from microbes, the selection of beneficial probiotics, and the utilization of fecal microbiota transplantation in the management of sepsis. Understanding the complexities of the gut microbiome holds the promise of revealing novel strategies that may transform the treatment of sepsis, providing a ray of hope for improved outcomes in critically ill patients.

Keywords

Sepsis / Gut microbiota / Metabolite / Dysbiosis / Immune response

Funding

This project was supported by the Heath and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) (22210032); RGC-GRF Hong Kong (14101922); and CUHK Direct Grant for Research (2024.010).

Conflict of interest

Huarong Chen is an Editorial Board Member of this journal but was not in any way involved in the editorial and peer-review process conducted for this paper, directly or indirectly. Separately, other authors declared that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.