The Microbiome in Critical Illness: Transforming ICU Care Through Microbial Insights

Introduction

Critical illness profoundly challenges human physiology and requires complex interventions often delivered in intensive care units (ICUs). An emerging frontier in critical care medicine is the human microbiome—the collective community of microorganisms inhabiting distinct body sites, especially the gastrointestinal tract. This review summarizes current knowledge on how the microbiome impacts critically ill and injured patients, the mechanisms underlying microbial disruption, and clinical strategies to mitigate these effects to optimize outcomes.

Understanding the Human Microbiome