J. Curtis Nickel, MD, FRCSC, presented “An Introduction to the Urinary Microbiome (Part 1): A Primer” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in August 2020.
How to cite: Nickel, J. Curtis. “An Introduction to the Urinary Microbiome (Part 1): A Primer” August 2020. Accessed Oct 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/an-introduction-to-the-urinary-microbiome-part-1-a-primer/
An Introduction to the Urinary Microbiome (Part 1): A Primer – Summary:
In the first lecture in a three-part foundational series for Grand Rounds in Urology’s Next Generation Microbiome and Urologic Infections Learning Center, J. Curtis Nickel, MD, FRCSC, discusses the urology community’s evolving understanding of the urinary microbiome’s role in promoting urinary health. He observes that while doctors have recognized the importance of the gut microbiome for some time, most urologists held the traditional belief that the urinary tract was sterile until the past decade. However, with next-generation sequencing, researchers have rapidly discovered that the urinary tract is a “veritable microbial jungle” that is home to more than 4,000 species. Now that researchers are aware of its existence, Dr. Nickel emphasizes that it is necessary to study the normal urinary microbiome in order to better understand the changes that might result in dysbiosis and disease, discussing the results of past small studies as well as the potential of his team’s recently-initiated, 600-subject ongoing normal microbiome study.
After watching, be sure to visit the other parts of this lecture series (linked below) and explore our learning center.
An Introduction to the Urinary Microbiome: Part 2- Impact on Urinary Disease
An Introduction to the Urinary Microbiome: Part 3- Manipulation for Urologic Health
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Nickel is the Canada Research Chair in Urologic Pain and Inflammation and a Professor of Urology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He is also a staff urologist at Kingston General Hospital. Dr. Nickel’s research covers inflammatory, benign prostate, and pain diseases of the urinary tract. He has over 550 publications, is on the editorial board of eight urology journals, serves as editor of the AUA Update Series, has presented in 45 countries, and is funded by the US NIH and Canadian CIHR. He has been awarded a CIHR Tier I Canada Research Chair (until 2021), as well as an AUA Distinguished Contribution Award and SIU Academy Award. He is currently Immediate Past-President of the Canadian Urological Association.