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[Microflora of pharyngeal mucosa in children with solid tumors]

V B Polishchuk, A P Baturo, E E Romanenko

    Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii I Immunobiologii
    |February 4, 2009
    PubMed

    Insights

    Gram-positive bacteria, particularly streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus, dominate the pharyngeal mucosa in children with solid tumors. These microbes often form complex multi-species associations rather than single cultures.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Pediatric Oncology

    Context:

    • Children with solid tumors often experience changes in their oral and pharyngeal microbiome.
    • Understanding the pharyngeal mucosa's microbial composition is crucial for managing potential infections and complications in immunocompromised pediatric patients.

    Purpose:

    • To characterize the microbiological profile of the pharyngeal mucosa in children diagnosed with solid tumors.
    • To identify the predominant microbial species and their associations within the pharyngeal mucosa of this patient cohort.

    Summary:

    • A microbiological study of 43 children with solid tumors found that 77.2% of isolated microorganisms were Gram-positive flora.
    • Streptococci (including pyogenic and viridans groups) and Staphylococcus aureus were the dominant species.
    • Microorganisms predominantly formed 2-6-component associations, with 3-4-component associations being most common (37.2% and 32.6%).

    Impact:

    • This research highlights the specific microbial landscape of the pharyngeal mucosa in pediatric cancer patients.
    • Findings can inform targeted prophylactic or therapeutic strategies to mitigate infection risks associated with altered microflora in this vulnerable population.

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