Targeting the preoperative microbiome to prevent surgical infections and antibiotic resistance
Official title: Targeting the preoperative microbiome for the prevention of surgical site infection and prophylactic antibiotic resistance
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11427104 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a patient’s microbiome before surgery influences the risk of infection and antibiotic resistance, with the goal of preventing surgical site infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $427,625 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165694-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11427104 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing surgery (including spine and abdominal procedures) whose preoperative microbiome profiles may influence infection risk.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without high-risk microbiome patterns or those not undergoing procedures where SSI prevention strategies are applicable may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project will look at how bacteria that live in and on a patient before surgery can lead to infections after surgery, and how these bacteria respond to the antibiotics given to prevent infection. By studying spine surgery patients and other abdominal procedures, researchers hope to identify microbiome patterns that predict SSI and antibiotic resistance. The work will connect preoperative microbiome traits to infection risk and test ideas that could guide better prevention strategies in the operating room. If successful, findings could lead to personalized strategies to lower SSI rates and curb antibiotic resistance after surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients could experience fewer surgical site infections and more effective antibiotic use after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed preoperative microbiome patterns associated with SSI and antibiotic resistance, supporting further development in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Long, Dustin R — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Long, Dustin R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Integrated microbiome and resistome framework to prevent surgical site infections in veterinary orthopedic surgery
A veterinary research project will study how preoperative microbes and resistance genes in animals relate to post-surgical infections and antibiotic failures.
-
Image-based tools to spot post-cesarean wound infections across different populations
Aims to test two image-based computer algorithms to detect infections after cesarean birth, using real patient images from diverse sites to help earlier care.
-
Image-based tools to spot post-cesarean wound infections early
Aims to use pictures and thermal images to help clinicians and community health workers detect cesarean-site infections sooner in women in Africa and Latin America.
-
Decolonization to prevent infections after colon and small bowel surgery
A clinical trial will test whether a post-discharge cleaning regimen (chlorhexidine baths and nasal antiseptic) reduces infections after colon and small bowel surgery.
-
Image-based tools to detect cesarean wound infections from photos and heat images in diverse women
A patient-friendly way to use photos and thermal images to detect cesarean wound infections early, helping mothers in various countries get timely care.
-
Remote photo and thermal checks to spot cesarean wound infections
This project uses photos and thermal images to help healthcare workers detect wound infections after cesarean delivery in women from Rwanda, Ghana, and Mexico.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.