- A recent study investigated links between the gut microbiome and COVID-19.
- The authors conclude that an individual’s gut microbiome may affect how the body responds to a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Gut bacteria might influence both the short- and long-term effects of infection.
Function of the gut microbiome
The gut microbiome plays a significant role in health. The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, including more than 1,000 species of bacteria.
Some bacteria in the gut help digest food and may also reduce the risk of developing certain diseases.
On the other hand, some bacteria may contribute to the development of certain types of cancer, play a role in obesity, and even impact mental health.
The study
No two people have the same gut microbiome, but there are certain types of bacteria that everyone might expect to have. This was the basis for the study, which was co-led by Yun Kit Yeoh. Yeoh works for the Department of Microbiology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
The researchers collected blood and stool samples from 100 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between February and May 2020 from two hospitals in Hong Kong. They compared the data collected from these individuals to samples obtained from 78 participants before the pandemic started.
The study showed that patients with COVID-19 had higher numbers of certain bacteria, including Ruminococcus gnavus, Ruminococcus torques, and Bacteroides dorei. R. gnavus, for example, is a bacterium associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
Antibiotics
The researchers mention that doctors should exercise caution if they decide to use antibiotics to treat someone with COVID-19.
“It is still possible that a higher prevalence of antibiotic administration in severe and critical patients could worsen inflammation,” the authors write.
They also conclude that “antibiotics are unlikely to be associated with improved patient outcomes assuming no bacterial coinfections but, in contrast, could exacerbate and prolong gut microbiota dysbiosis in patients with COVID-19.”
Study implications
Knowing that gut health may affect how someone experiences COVID-19, this study may help shape what recommendations medical professionals make in terms of precautions to take.
