title: Microbial gut overgrowth guarantees increased spontaneous mutation leading to polyclonality and antibiotic resistance in the critically ill.
abstract: Polyclonality is defined as the occurrence of different genotypes of a bacterial species. We are of the opinion that these different clones originate within the patient. When infections and outbreaks occur, the terms of polyclonal infections and polyclonal outbreaks have been used, respectively. The origin of polyclonality has never been reported, although some authors suggest the acquisition of different clones from different animate and inanimate sources. We think that the gut of the critically ill patient with microbial overgrowth is the ideal site for the de-novo development of new clones, following increased spontaneous mutation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK. Rick.VanSaene@RLC.NHS.UK
authors.forename: H K F
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: van Saene
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Damjanovic
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sarginson
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016638:Critical Illness; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents