Gut bugs in the ICU: could they predict who gets better?
NCT ID NCT04552834
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study follows 500 adults admitted to the intensive care unit to see how their gut bacteria (microbiome) change during critical illness. Researchers will track deaths and recovery up to one year later. The goal is to understand whether these bacterial shifts affect short- and long-term outcomes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors understand how gut bacteria affect recovery from critical illness, potentially leading to new ways to improve outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It will not directly test any therapy, and results may not lead to immediate changes in patient care.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
500 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Sep 2020
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit Exclusion Criteria: none
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Chicago Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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