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New Microbial Markers May Indicate Health Risks in Aged Care Residents
Recent research from Flinders University has identified a promising microbial marker that could enhance our understanding of the health status of older individuals residing in long-term care facilities.
Conducted under the direction of PhD candidate Sophie Miller in the College of Medicine and Public Health, the study highlights that a simple swab from the oropharynx—the back of the throat—may reveal significant information regarding the health challenges faced by aged care residents.
Miller comments, “Our research indicates that particular bacterial populations found in the throat could signify increased health risks among older adults.”
Traditionally, assessing physical robustness through criteria like grip strength has effectively pinpointed vulnerable elderly individuals. Nevertheless, this study advocates for incorporating biological markers, which could shed further light on the likelihood of adverse health outcomes in aged care settings.
Miller explains, “As we age, the bacterial and microbial flora in our throat undergoes alterations. Factors such as polypharmacy and more frequent medical consultations—which are prevalent in older populations—can disrupt this delicate balance.” She notes, “These age-related changes could trigger physiological modifications that enhance susceptibility to various diseases and frailty.”
The research involved collecting oropharyngeal swabs from 190 aged care residents throughout metropolitan South Australia and tracking their health for a duration of 12 months. Notably, the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), typically associated with infections but not in this context, was significantly linked to adverse health outcomes.
Findings revealed that residents harboring S. aureus were nearly ten times more likely to experience mortality within the year compared to those who did not carry the bacterium. Miller notes, “This discovery emphasizes the potential of the microbiome as a supplementary marker to identify residents who may need enhanced care or monitoring.”
The presence of S. aureus appeared to indicate broader health complications, rather than just correlating with specific infections. Residents who tested positive for S. aureus often had multiple health issues, further reinforcing the idea that carrying this bacterium may reflect general health status.
“Crucially, S. aureus was shown to be a more reliable predictor of mortality than the overall count of comorbidities, which are typically employed to gauge elderly health,” shares Miller. “Even after accounting for various factors, including the number of coexisting conditions and medications, the association between S. aureus and increased mortality risk remained markedly strong.”
Professor Geraint Rogers, the study’s senior author and Director of the Microbiome and Host Health program at SAHMRI, highlights the importance of these findings. “It is intriguing to observe this relationship with S. aureus, despite the absence of clear infection markers,” he states. “This suggests that specific bacterial presence might serve as an indicator of general health deterioration, distinct from direct infection indicators.”
“This research represents a significant advance towards utilizing simple microbial assessments to enhance healthcare strategies and outcomes for aged care residents,” adds Professor Rogers. He emphasizes the need for further studies to validate these findings and investigate their long-term effects.
“By expanding our research to larger populations, we aim to discover additional methods to improve care for older adults,” emphasizes Professor Rogers. Further investigation is critical for understanding how these microbial indicators could complement established health evaluations to promote better health outcomes for older Australians.
Acknowledgements: This research was funded by an Australian Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant from the Australian Department of Health (GNT1152268). The Department reviewed the study proposal but did not participate in its design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or manuscript preparation. GBR is supported by an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (GNT119378) and a Matthew Flinders Professorial Fellowship. SLT is supported by an NHMRC Emerging Leadership grant (GNT2008625).
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