Challenges in the culture-independent analysis of oral and respiratory samples from intubated patients

• Main Authors: Vladimir eLazarevic, Nadia eGaïa, Stéphane eEmonet, Myriam eGirard, Gesuele eRenzi, Lena eDespres, Hannah eWozniak, Javier eYugueros Marcos, Jean-Baptiste eVeyrieras, Sonia eChatellier, Alex eVan Belkum, Jérôme ePugin, Jacques eSchrenzel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-05-01
• Series: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
• Subjects: Bacterial communities; endotracheal aspirate; supraglottic secretions; human microbiota; 16S rDNA profiling
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fcimb.2014.00065/full

The spread of microorganisms in hospitals is an important public health threat, and yet few studies have assessed how human microbial communities (microbiota) evolve in the hospital setting. Studies conducted so far have mainly focused on a limited number of bacterial species, mostly pathogenic ones and primarily during outbreaks. We explored the bacterial community diversity of the microbiota from oral and respiratory samples of intubated patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit and we discuss the technical challenges that may arise while using culture-independent approaches to study these types of samples.