Researchers used a computational approach to characterize the gut microbiota of patients who had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and they detected impacts on microbial community composition from dietary changes and antibacterial therapies. The studys results were presented at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, held in Orlando, Florida.

According to the studyinvestigators, the microbiota of patients often experience disruptions withallo-HSCT, and reduced microbial diversity may be associated with consequencessuch as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

In this study, theinvestigators performed DNA sequencing of 7930 samples from microbiomes ofpatients (N=1076) who had undergone allo-HSCT. The researchers fed thesequencing data into a clustering algorithm to evaluate patterns of diversityand composition in the microbial communities of these patients. The researchersused this algorithm to monitor changes in microbial communities withenvironmental modifiers that included antibacterial drugs and dietaryalterations.

Piperacillin-tazobactam(pip-tazo) exposure was reported to disrupt a microbial cluster (cluster 1)that had been characterized by high diversity (P <.05). This cluster,however, was not significantly impacted by cefepime and meropenem.

Pip-tazo was alsoassociated with shifts toward a cluster dominated by Streptococcus (P<.001), while shifts toward an Enterococcus-dominated clusterappeared to be encouraged by exposure to cefepime (P <.05) ormeropenem (P <.01).

Using specimens from 46patients who provided dietary details, the investigators found that cluster 1,noted for high diversity, lost stability in the presence of more protein (P<.05), while a diet with a higher fat intake was associated with increasedstability for this cluster (P <.05).

The investigators statedthat a goal of this approach to microbiota assessment, which evaluates entiremicrobial communities, is to help find treatments that enable optimal outcomesfor patients undergoing allo-HSCT.

Disclosure: Multiple authors declaredaffiliations with industry. Please refer to the original abstract for a fulllist of disclosures.

Reference

Nguyen CL, Gomes ALC, Peled JU, et al. Antibiotic exposures and dietary intakes are associated with changes in microbiota compositions in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Oral presentation at: 61st ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition; December 7-10, 2019; Orlando, FL. Abstract 597.

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Microbial Dynamics in Patients Treated With Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - Oncology Nurse Advisor