LB973 Cutaneous surgical wounds have distinct microbiomes from intact skin

Surgical site infections are common following surgical procedures, despite aseptic technique and prophylactic antibiotic use. Although gut commensals believed to limit certain in the intestine, an analogous role for skin has not been described. To identify bacteria with potential protect against infection, we characterized wound microbiome 52 patients who underwent cancer surgery healed without signs or symptoms of infection. Compared intact, non-operated from same patients, observed several species significant differences relative abundance one week after surgery. The most found on intact skin, Cutibacterium acnes, was depleted wounds by 5-fold. Surprisingly, Staphylococcus aureus, a frequent cause postoperative infections, enriched 6.4-fold clinically non-infected wounds, suggesting active suppression this pathogen. Finally, members Corynebacterium genus were dominant organism is making up 37% average microbiome. Future studies focused biological clinical significance may shed light normal healing therapeutic opportunities mitigate infection risk.