Precision Modulation of Gut Microbiome Enteropathogen Colonization in Critical Illness

Patients requiring life support therapies in intensive care units are at very high risk of hospital-acquired infections. An important source of these infections is the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in the microbiome of their gut. We hypothesize that treatment with an enteral synbiotic (combination of probiotic and prebiotic), which has been specifically designed to combat pathogen colonization in the gastrointestinal tract, will be safe and effective to reduce pathogen levels in the gut, and potentially reduce infections. We are conducting a phase 1b randomized, open-label, controlled trial to assess safety biological efficacy of enteral synbiotic therapy to reduce gastrointestinal enteropathogen colonization in adult critically ill patients.