Priority 7 from the Healthcare Associated Infections PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What is the role of change of bacteria in patients or the environment in the development of infection in hospital? (Priority 7)
Overall ranking	7
JLA question ID	0088/7
Explanatory note	There are millions of bacteria in the human body: some are good and some are bad. These are maintained in balance in a healthy individual. The change of type of bacteria because of the various treatments that they receive, may be one of the reasons for increased susceptibility of patients in the critical care unit for HCAI. Understanding this role may result in alternate treatments.
Evidence	Systematic review: Yes, but in the post-operative setting Lederer et al. BMC Surg. 2017 Dec 4;17(1):125 Kasatpibal et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 May 15;64(suppl_2):S153-S160 Systematic review details: Lederer: Better quality studies are necessary Kasatpibal: high risk of bias systematic review, so conclusions are misleading
Health Research Classification System category	Infection

Extra information provided by this project
Original uncertainty examples	What is the role of changes in the microbiome of patients in the pathogenisis of HCAI?
Submitted by	1 x Healthcare professional

Project information
Project unique ID	0088
Project name	Healthcare Associated Infections
Total number of uncertainties identified by this project.	259 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	28 February 2019