Contact-Mediated Bacterial Transmission and Infection Risk Dynamics in a Newly Opened Hospital Ward
The hospital microbiome significantly influences patient recovery and clinical outcomes. However, the dynamics of microbial colonization and transmission following initial patient occupancy remain poorly understood. Here, we employed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 region (Illumina platform) to investigate bacterial community dynamics on surfaces within neurosurgery ward and patients as a new hospital became operational.