Journal of Clinical Medicine
Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Is Associated with Late In-Hospital Mortality
By Oleksandr Valentynovych Oliynyk, Wojciech Barg, Oleksandr Yashan and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with high mortality. There is increasing evidence suggesting that intestinal dysbiosis may influence clinical outcomes; however, its prognostic significance in patients with severe TBI remains poorly defined.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study included 235 patients with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score ≤ 8) admitted to the intensive care units of three participating hospitals between September 2023 and December 2024. Quantitative microbiological analysis of jejunal aspirates was performed at admission and repeated on days 12–14 of the ICU stay. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) was defined as a bacterial load of ≥105 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL). Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed.