 Recently profound alterations of the composition of the gut microbiome in ESRD have been shown. In ESRD subjects, more Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and fewer Sutterellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Lactobacillaceae were observed relative to controls. The frequent use of antibiotics, phosphate binders and an often polypragmatic drug consumption has a considerable impact on the microbiome of ESRD-patients. 