Immunosuppression linked to loss of airway microbiome stability in severe COVID-19 patients (microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com)

• 604 airway samples from 243 ventilated COVID-19 patients profiled via metatranscriptomics.
• Immunosuppression linked to progressive SARS-CoV-2 enrichment and loss of microbiome stability.
• Opportunistic pathogens S. aureus and E. coli increased and predicted mortality.
• Typical airway commensals decreased significantly in immunosuppressed patients.

"A study analyzing 604 airway samples from 243 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients found that immunosuppression is associated with progressive loss of airway microbiome resilience. SARS-CoV-2 enrichment over time, increased opportunistic pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli), and decreased typical commensals were observed in immunosuppressed patients, correlating with higher mortality. The findings suggest that microbiome destabilization is an independent factor for poor outcomes."