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Microbiome in the Critically Ill

  • Chapter
Nutrition Support for the Critically Ill

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

The human intestinal microbiome is a key component of the body. Composed of 1014 bacteria, it is very much a part of all of us. Research into the microbiome has greatly expanded over the last few years. Animal studies, especially on germ-free animals, have helped greatly to define the role of the microbiome in growth and development, especially of the immune system and the inflammatory responses. Importantly, disease states are associated with derangements of the microbiome. It is likely that few, if any, critically ill patients have a “normal” microbiome. Deprivation of enteral nutrition promotes a less healthy and more virulent microbial population, even if parenteral nutrition is provided. Indeed, changes in the microbiome may be the reason for the wellknown superiority of enteral over parenteral nutrition. We can modify the microbiome with probiotics, although the science of doing so is still undeveloped. We are just beginning to understand the role of the microbiome in health and disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan, 1540 East Hospital Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA

    Meredith Barrett MD

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, 1540 East Hospital Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA

    Daniel H. Teitelbaum MD

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  1. Meredith Barrett MD
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Correspondence to Daniel H. Teitelbaum MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA

    David S. Seres

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

    Charles W. Van Way, III

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Barrett, M., Teitelbaum, D.H. (2016). Microbiome in the Critically Ill. In: Seres, D., Van Way, III, C. (eds) Nutrition Support for the Critically Ill. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21831-1_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21831-1_15

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