Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39826103›Full record

Observational studyGut microbes2025

Epidemiology of bacterial biofilms on polyps and normal tissues in a screening colonoscopy cohort.

Julia L Drewes, Samara B Rifkin, Madison McMann, Sara Glass, Emma Spence, Caroline R Wensel, Abby L Geis, Courtney Stevens, Joell J Gills, Hao Wang and 9 more

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Gut microbes, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Julia L DrewesDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5060-0624
Samara B RifkinDepartment of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Madison McMannDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Sara GlassDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Emma SpenceDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Caroline R WenselDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abby L GeisDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Courtney StevensDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Joell J GillsBloomberg-Kimmel Institute of Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Hao WangDepartment of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Care Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Linda M HylindDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Gerard MullinDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
David KafonekGreen Spring Endoscopy, Lutherville, MD, USA.
David CromwellMaryland Endoscopy Center, Towson, MD, USA.
Louis La LunaDigestive Disease Associates, Reading, Wyomissing, PA, USA.
Francis M GiardielloDepartment of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Care Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Cynthia L SearsDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Biofilm Study Consortium
Biofilm Study Consortium consists of the primary authors above as well as the following:

Funding

Translational Research Central ServicesP30CA006973 · NCI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI ALAN KEITH MEEKER · 1985 to 2026
$208.6M
Biofilm Epidemiology and Mechanisms in Colon CancerR01CA196845 · NCI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI GIARDIELLO, FRANCIS M, SEARS, CYNTHIA · 2016 to 2020
$4.3M
Zeiss LSM780 Confocal Microscope for a Core FacilityS10OD016374 · OD · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI KUO, SCOT CHARLES · 2013 to 2013
$584k
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA006973NCI NIH HHS R01 CA196845NIH HHS S10 OD016374
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInvasive bacterial biofilms are implicated in colorectal cancer. However, their prevalence on histologically normal tissues and polyps is not well established, and risk factors of biofilms have not been previously investigated. Here we evaluated potential procedural and demographic risk factors associated with biofilm status using a cross-sectional observational cohort.

methodsHistologically normal colonic biopsies from 2,051 individuals undergoing screening colonoscopy were evaluated for biofilm status using fluorescence in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes targeting bacterial 16S rRNA. Polyp tissues from 21 individuals were also examined. Procedural, demographic, and lifestyle predictors of bacterial scores were evaluated using multivariable proportional odds regression models.

resultsProcedural variables that negatively impacted bacterial scores and biofilm detection included smaller biopsy forcep size, physician, bowel preparation type, and shorter times from bowel preparation completion to colonoscopy. Lifestyle variables including greater alcohol and cigarette usage were associated with higher bacterial scores, while vigorous physical activity and diabetes mellitus were associated with lower bacterial scores. Bacterial scores on normal tissues were significantly higher in individuals with colorectal cancer but not polyps compared to dysplasia-free individuals. Direct examination of polyp tissues demonstrated similar bacterial burden and taxonomic composition compared to paired normal tissues, but polyps displayed enhanced bacterial invasion into crypts. Additionally, bacterial scores significantly correlated with increasing polyp size, suggesting co-evolution of polyps with bacterial invasion and biofilm status.

conclusionsColonic biofilms are highly dynamic ecosystems that associate with several other known risk factors for colorectal cancer. However, biofilm detection is impacted by multiple procedural factors.

Indexed as

BacteriaBiofilmsColonic PolypsAdultAgedCohort StudiesColonColonoscopyColorectal NeoplasmsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsRNA, Ribosomal, 16SRNA, Ribosomal, 16SBiofilmsbowel preparationcolonoscopycolorectal cancerpolyps

Identifiers

PMID39826103
PMCPMC12716056

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.