The human microbiome is a complex community of microorganisms that plays a crucial role in maintaining our overall health and well-being. The microbial pattern is affected by a multiplicity of factors such as an individual’s origin, sex and diet. Pre-existing illnesses as well as newly occurred diseases are associated with an alteration of the microbiome. Certain bacteria and fungi in the oral or gut microbiome are associated with development of cancer. Recent publications emphasize a potential role of the microbiome in surgery underlining also the relevance of microorganisms in development of postoperative infectious complications. Surgical interventions are a massive stress event to the human body leading to distinct metabolic, hormonal and endocrine alterations, which are able to alter the microbial composition. Research has shown that the gut microbiome can interact with surgical interventions in various ways.

The gut microbiome can influence the effectiveness of certain surgical procedures and the speed at which patients recover and can influence the response to surgery and the risk of complications. Conversely, surgical interventions and antibiotics administered during surgery, can alter the composition of the microbiome and potentially have negative impacts on health. There is also evidence to suggest that manipulating the microbiome through probiotics or other means may improve outcomes following surgery. However, more research is needed to fully understand the interactions between the gut microbiome and surgical interventions.

The aim of this special issue is to collect the variety of recent surgical microbiome research to elucidate the sensitive microbial equilibrium in surgical patients and to better understand the role of microorganisms in surgical diseases. All studies, whether preclinical or clinical trials, are welcomed to be submitted. We are interested in animal research as well as in human research and consider all kinds of microbiome research with a surgical reference.

This Research Topic is focused on the interaction between surgical intervention and the various human microbial communities. Both preclinical (also animal trails) and clinical trials are considered. We welcome original research articles, methods, reviews, mini-reviews and perspectives on but not limited to the following sub-themes:

1. The effect of the microbiome and its metabolites on the outcome of gastrointestinal surgical interventions.

2. Interaction of the oral microbiome with oral and maxillofacial surgeries.

3. The changes in the richness, diversity and community composition of the gut microbiome as well as the inflammation and immune profiles in response to all kinds of surgical interventions.

4. The use of microbial markers and signatures as a stratifying tool for prediction of surgical outcomes.

5. Interventions aiming to prevent microbial dysbiosis before surgical interventions or reverse microbial dysbiosis after surgical interventions.

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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

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