How skin and gut microbes change after a burn
An Exploratory Study on the Dynamics of Microbiome Dysbiosis (Microbial Imbalance) in the Skin and Gut Microbiome of Burn Patients
This study will test whether skin and gut microbes change over two years in adults with healed burns by collecting skin swabs, stool, and clinical measures and comparing them to healthy people.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 600 (estimated) |
| Ages | 19 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Seoul) |
| Trial ID | NCT07209007 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This prospective cohort will follow 600 adults with healed partial- or full-thickness burns and 60 healthy controls, collecting skin swabs from burned scars and matched non-burned sites plus stool samples and clinical measures at baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Microbial profiling will be performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and skin physiology (TEWL, hydration, erythema, melanin, elasticity, pH) and blood inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, IL-6) will be measured. Healthy controls provide single baseline samples for comparison. The study is observational and conducted at Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital in Seoul.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 19–65 with partial- or full-thickness burns whose wounds have completely healed after debridement, grafting, or conservative treatment and who can provide informed consent.
Not a fit: People who used systemic or topical antibiotics, probiotics, steroids, or immunosuppressants within two weeks, who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who have chronic skin diseases or active infections, or who have other medical conditions that make participation inappropriate may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could reveal microbial patterns linked to healing or complications and help guide future monitoring or microbiome-based treatments for burn survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have shown burn-related disruptions in skin or gut microbiomes, but comprehensive long-term paired skin-and-gut profiling at this scale is novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Adults aged 19 to 65 years * Patients with partial- or full-thickness burns whose wounds have completely healed following debridement, grafting, or conservative treatment * Ability to understand study objectives and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria * Use of systemic or topical antibiotics, probiotics, steroids, or immunosuppressants within 2 weeks prior to sample collection * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Chronic skin diseases (e.g., psoriasis, eczema) or systemic illnesses affecting the skin microbiome * Active infections at the sampling site * Any medical condition judged by the investigator to make participation inappropriate
Where this trial is running
Seoul
- Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital — Seoul, South Korea (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Yoon Soo Cho, MD, PhD
- Email: yschorm@hallym.ac.kr
- Phone: +82-2-2639-5730
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.