SCI Population Biobanking and Translational Research Group, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 2;13(1):12540. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-39519-2.
Pressure injuries (PI) are a common issue among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), especially in the sitting areas of the body. Considering the risk of infections occurring to PI during the wound healing process, the skin microbiome is likely to be a source of bacteria. We investigated the relationship between skin and PI microbiomes, and assessed any correlation with clinically relevant outcomes related to PI. Samples were isolated from SCI patients undergoing reconstructive surgery of PI, severity grades III and IV. DNA samples from skin and PI were analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results showed disparities in microbiome composition between skin and PI. The skin had lower diversity, while PI showed increased bacterial homogeneity as the severity grade progressed. The skin bacterial composition varied based on its location, influenced by Cutibacterium. Compositional differences were identified between PI grades III and IV, with clusters of bacteria colonizing PI, characterized by Pseudomonas, Proteus and Peptoniphilus. The skin and PI microbiomes were not affected by the level of the SCI. Our study highlights the differences in the microbiome of skin and PI in SCI patients. These findings could be used to target specific bacteria for PI treatment in clinical practice.
压力性损伤（PI）在脊髓损伤（SCI）患者中很常见，尤其是在身体的坐姿区域。考虑到 PI 在伤口愈合过程中感染的风险，皮肤微生物组可能是细菌的来源。我们研究了皮肤和 PI 微生物组之间的关系，并评估了它们与 PI 相关的临床相关结果之间的任何相关性。样本取自正在接受 PI 重建手术的 SCI 患者，损伤严重程度为 III 级和 IV 级。使用 16S rRNA 基因测序分析皮肤和 PI 的 DNA 样本。我们的结果表明，皮肤和 PI 的微生物组组成存在差异。皮肤的多样性较低，而随着严重程度的增加，PI 显示出细菌同质性增加。皮肤的细菌组成因位置而异，受表皮葡萄球菌影响。PI 严重程度为 III 级和 IV 级之间存在细菌组成差异，定植 PI 的细菌簇以假单胞菌、变形菌和消化链球菌为特征。皮肤和 PI 微生物组不受 SCI 水平的影响。我们的研究强调了 SCI 患者皮肤和 PI 微生物组的差异。这些发现可用于针对 PI 治疗中的特定细菌，为临床实践提供指导。
