Cited by 1,020Gut microbiota and healthNeutropenia and Cancer InfectionsHematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Intestinal Domination and the Risk of Bacteremia in Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

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Taur, Ying, Xavier, Joao B., Lipuma, Lauren, Ubeda, Carles, Goldberg, Jenna, Gobourne, Asia, Lee, Yeon Joo, Dubin, Krista A. +6 more·2012·Clinical Infectious Diseases

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bacteremia is a frequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It is unclear whether changes in the intestinal microbiota during allo-HSCT contribute to the development of bacteremia. We examined the microbiota of patients undergoing allo-HSCT, and correlated microbial shifts with the risk of bacteremia. METHODS: Fecal specimens were collected longitudinally from 94 patients undergoing allo-HSCT, from before transplant until 35 days after transplant. The intestinal microbiota was characterized by 454 pyrosequencing of the V1-V3 region of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Microbial diversity was estimated by grouping sequences into operational taxonomic units and calculating the Shannon diversity index. Phylogenetic classification was obtained using the Ribosomal Database Project classifier. Associations of the microbiota with clinical predictors and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: During allo-HSCT, patients developed reduced diversity, with marked shifts in bacterial populations inhabiting the gut. Intestinal domination, defined as occupation of at least 30% of the microbiota by a single predominating bacterial taxon, occurred frequently. Commonly encountered dominating organisms included Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and various Proteobacteria. Enterococcal domination was increased 3-fold by metronidazole administration, whereas domination by Proteobacteria was reduced 10-fold by fluoroquinolone administration. As a predictor of outcomes, enterococcal domination increased the risk of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus bacteremia 9-fold, and proteobacterial domination increased the risk of gram-negative rod bacteremia 5-fold. CONCLUSIONS: During allo-HSCT, the diversity and stability of the intestinal flora are disrupted, resulting in domination by bacteria associated with subsequent bacteremia. Assessment of fecal microbiota identifies patients at highest risk for bloodstream infection during allo-HCST.

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  • This multicenter study extends earlier findings from smaller single-center cohorts.

    “The results of this international study extend previous observations that have been made in smaller, single-center cohorts.3,4,8,36”
  • Single-center studies have linked post-HCT intestinal microbiota features to relapse, GVHD, infection, organ toxicity, and overall survival.

    “Each of these outcomes, as well as overall survival, has been associated in single-center studies with features of the intestinal microbiota in the period after hematopoietic-cell transplantation.2–4,8–15”
  • Allogeneic HCT patients show microbiota disruption, including overgrowth of potential pathogens and reduced alpha diversity.

    “We and others have reported that patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation have microbiota disruption that is characterized by expansions of potentially pathogenic bacteria and loss of alpha diversity — a variable that reflects the number of unique bacterial taxa present and their relative frequencies.2–5”
  • When one bacterial taxon dominates the gut community, bloodstream infection with that same taxon becomes more likely.

    “For example, domination of intestinal communities by a single bacterial taxon leads to an increased risk of bloodstream infection by a bacterium of that same taxon,3”
  • After allogeneic stem cell transplant, the gut microbiota loses diversity and stability and becomes dominated by Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Proteobacteria.

    “a disruption of the existing state of equilibrium of the gut microbiota post-HSCT with a relative dysbiosis and a loss of bacterial diversity and stability and dominance of Enterococcus, Streptococcus and various Proteobacteria”

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  1. Blijlevens NM, Donnelly JP, de Pauw BE. mucosal barrier injury depends on conditioning regimen. Bone Marrow Transplant 2005; 35:707-11.

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Authors
Taur, Y., Xavier, J. B., Lipuma, L., Ubeda, C., Goldberg, J., Gobourne, A., Lee, Y. J., Dubin, K. A., Socci, N. D., Viale, A., Perales, M.-A., Jenq, R. R., van den Brink, M. R. M., & Pamer, E. G.
Affiliations
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
Corresponding author
Taur, Ying
Venue
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Published
2012-06-20
Volume
55
Issue
7
Pages
905-914
ISSN
  • 1058-4838 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-6591
OpenAlex
W2139284253
Cited by
1,020
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 77 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 78 · 2023: 91 · 2022: 107 · 2021: 103 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 98 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 2
FWCI
12.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Tow Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (1k23ai095398-01, DP2OD008440)
  • National Cancer Institute (P30CA008748)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM007739)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (1R01 AI42135, 1K23AI095398-01, K23-AI095398, R01AI042135)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Neutropenia and Cancer Infections
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Keywords
bacteremia, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, gut microbiota, microbial diversity, Enterococcus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, Proteobacteria, metronidazole, fluoroquinolones, fecal microbiota
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, DNA, Bacterial, DNA, Ribosomal, Feces, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Phylogeny, Risk Factors, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Bacteremia, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Biodiversity

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