Presence of Enterococcus spp. in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract is a Risk Factor for Mortality in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

A recent study conducted at a German pancreatic center investigated the role of microbiota in perioperative outcomes of pancreatic head resections. The study utilized 16s rrna sequencing and microbial culturing to analyze samples collected from various gastrointestinal sites of 101 patients undergoing surgery. The findings revealed that the presence of Enterococcus spp. in the upper gastrointestinal tract and bile ducts significantly increased the risk of perioperative infections, leading to elevated postoperative and long-term mortality rates in patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer.