Microbiome analysis reveals the potential mechanism of herbal sitz bath complementary therapy in accelerating postoperative recovery from perianal abscesses

Abstract

The herbal sitz bath formula, as a complementary therapy, effectively alleviates postoperative wound pain and accelerates healing time in patients with perianal abscesses. To investigate its mechanism of action, this study conducted 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis on wound exudate samples from patients after perianal abscess surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving the herbal sitz bath as an adjunctive therapy and the other without this adjunctive therapy. Samples were collected on the first and eighth days after surgery to compare the differences in microbial community composition between the two groups on the eighth day and between the first and eighth days within each group. The study revealed that the herbal sitz bath significantly altered the structure of the microbial community, increasing its diversity and abundance. By reducing Enterococcus and increasing Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Ruminococcus, the therapy enhanced the wound's anti-infective capacity and accelerated healing. This study explored the potential mechanism of the herbal sitz bath formula as an adjunctive therapy in promoting postoperative recovery from perianal abscesses, providing valuable data for further research on the role of microorganisms in wound care. These findings contribute to optimising postoperative treatment regimens and facilitating patient recovery.