Priority 7 from the Healthcare Associated Infections Project

UNCERTAINTY: What is the role of change of bacteria in patients or the environment in the development of infection in hospital? (Priority 7)
Overall ranking 7
JLA question ID 0088/7
Explanatory note There are millions of bacteria in the human body: some are good and some are bad. These are maintained in balance in a healthy individual. The change of type of bacteria because of the various treatments that they receive, may be one of the reasons for increased susceptibility of patients in the critical care unit for HCAI. Understanding this role may result in alternate treatments.
Evidence

Systematic review: Yes, but in the post-operative setting
Lederer et al. BMC Surg. 2017 Dec 4;17(1):125
Kasatpibal et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 May 15;64(suppl_2):S153-S160
Systematic review details:
Lederer: Better quality studies are necessary
Kasatpibal: high risk of bias systematic review, so conclusions are misleading

Health Research Classification System category Infection
Extra information provided by this project
Original uncertainty examples What is the role of changes in the microbiome of patients in the pathogenisis of HCAI?
Submitted by 1 x Healthcare professional 
Project information
Project unique ID 0088
Project name Healthcare Associated Infections
Total number of uncertainties identified by this project. 259  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 28 February 2019