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Individuals with obesity-related type 2 diabetes (obesity/T2D) are at a five times increased risk for invasive Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis (bone infection) following orthopedic surgeries. With increasing antibiotic resistance and limited discoveries of novel antibiotics, it is imperative that we explore other avenues for therapeutics. In this study, we demonstrated that the dietary fiber oligofructose markedly reduced osteomyelitis severity and hyperinflammation following acute prosthetic joint infections in obese/T2D mice. Reduced infection severity was associated with changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolism, as indicated by increased production of natural polyamines in the gut and circulating plasma. This work identifies a novel role for the gut microbiome in mediating control of bacterial infections and polyamines as beneficial metabolites involved in improving the obesity/T2D host response to osteomyelitis. Understanding the impact of polyamines on host immunity and mechanisms behind decreasing susceptibility to severe implant-associated osteomyelitis is crucial to improving treatment strategies for this patient population.
Bui et al. (Tue,) studied this question.