The peripancreatic microbiota is associated with the severity of acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Background Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is associated with the prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP). The correlation between the microbial diversity in the peripancreatic region and the severity of AP remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to analyse the microbial composition of peripancreatic necrosis in IPN patients by 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Methods Patients with acute pancreatitis who met the clinical diagnostic criteria for IPN were prospectively included. These patients were subsequently divided into a sepsis group and a non-sepsis group. Samples of peripancreatic necrotic fluid were collected by percutaneous puncture drainage, followed by 16S rRNA sequencing and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Results There was no significant difference between the sepsis and non-sepsis groups in terms of bacterial alpha diversity, and there was a significant difference in beta diversity according to the Welch's t test (P < 0.001), Adonis analysis (P = 0.037) and Anosim analysis (P = 0.032). The relative abundance of Klebsiella differed significantly between the two groups (2.79% vs. 34.14%, P = 0.0093) and correlated with the length of hospital stay (r = 0.422, P = 0.025). Conclusion The peripancreatic microbiota is associated with the severity of acute pancreatitis, with Klebsiella being the dominant microflora in patients with IPN combined with sepsis.