 It is anticipated that the evolving microbiota, in concert with measurable changes in the local and systemic cytokine responses, will reveal patterns associated with mutualistic-commensal bacteria andor pathogenic bacteria related to the stages of chronic wound healing. These patterns could be used to determine the presence of a stable uninfected stoma or the progression of a stomal infection. Hopefully, this information will allow timely intervention to prevent infection, i.e. by detecting early stages of infection or discerning common patterns of stable mutualistic-commensal bacterial strains, effective intervention protocols antibiotics, probiotics or manipulation of the stomal and skin microbiota may be developed to avoid patient morbidity and assure implant survival. 