Neurological disorders after severe pneumonia are associated with translocation of endogenous bacteria from the lung to the brain

Abstract

Neurological disorders are a common feature in patients who recover from severe acute pneumonia. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the neurological syndromes after severe acute pneumonia are partly attributed to the translocation of endogenous bacteria from the lung to the brain during pneumonia. Using principal components analysis, similarities were found between the brain’s flora species and those of the lungs, indicating that the bacteria detected in the brain may originate from the lungs.