Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41562240›Full record

ArticleANZ journal of surgery2026

Dynamic 16S rRNA Sequencing of the Abdominal Wall Surgical Site Highlights Potential Pathways of Incisional Surgical Site Infection in Colorectal Surgery.

Veral Vishnoi, Emily C Hoedt, Matthew Watson, Madelyn Gramlick, Michelle Zhao, Natalie Lott, Rosemary Carroll, Peter Pockney, Stephen R Smith, Simon Keely

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ANZ journal of surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Veral VishnoiSchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8573-5828
Emily C HoedtSchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2715-7588
Matthew WatsonDepartment of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
Madelyn GramlickDepartment of Surgical Services, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Michelle ZhaoDepartment of Surgical Services, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9766-991X
Natalie LottDepartment of Surgical Services, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Rosemary CarrollDepartment of Surgical Services, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Peter PockneySchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Stephen R SmithSchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1104-133X
Simon KeelySchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

Australian NSW Health Round 5 Early-Mid Career GrantAVANT Doctor-in-Training Grant
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUnderstanding the microbial changes within the surgical site may enhance our understanding of the origin and subsequent role of microbes in the causation of incisional surgical site infections (SSIs). In this study we used 16S rRNA sequencing to establish the dynamic microbiota of the surgical site in patients undergoing bowel resection.

methodsThe surgical site of patients undergoing bowel resection was sampled at four different time points: on initial incision of the surgical site prior to peritoneal breach; on completion of the operation following fascial closure; from the lumen of the resected segment of bowel; and from the superficial skin of the surgical site in the follow-up period. DNA was extracted and used for 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing to establish the dynamic microbiota changes that occur within the surgical site.

resultsA total of 250 samples were collected from 50 patients. The native subcutaneous abdominal plane is a low biodiversity Gram positive aerobic community, which following resection of the bowel, reflects a high biodiversity obligate anaerobic community, suggestive of contamination from the GI lumen. The follow-up sampling shows resilience of skin commensals, depletion of the most abundant luminal microbes with emergence of Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococaceae. These two families thrive to colonise the follow up wound in all patients, highlighting potential pathways of infection in colorectal surgery.

conclusionsWhilst this study does not demonstrate causality, it does add to the body of literature in deciphering the poorly understood pathogenesis of SSIs in colorectal patients. This study should be used as a platform to perform further multiomics-based investigations to try and underpin the exact mechanisms behind SSIs in this form of surgery, thus allowing us to improve preventative strategies in the future.

Indexed as

Abdominal WallRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSurgical Wound InfectionAdultAgedColorectal Surgical ProceduresFemaleHumansMaleMicrobiotaMiddle AgedRNA, Ribosomal, 16Scolorectal surgerymicrobiomemicrobiotasurgical site infection

Identifiers

PMID41562240
PMCPMC13129236

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.