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Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
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Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Published on: December 31, 2017

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Composition and Comparison of the Ocular Surface Microbiome in Infants and Older Children

Kara M Cavuoto1, Santanu Banerjee2, Darlene Miller1

  • 1Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.

Translational Vision Science & Technology
|December 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

The ocular surface microbiome (OSM) in children is mainly composed of Staphylococcus species. Older children exhibit a more diverse OSM compared to infants, as revealed by 16S sequencing.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • The ocular surface microbiome (OSM) composition in children remains underexplored.
  • Understanding the pediatric OSM is crucial for identifying potential health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the OSM composition in infants and compare it with older children.
  • To assess age-related differences in the pediatric OSM using culture-dependent and independent methods.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study of children under 18 years.
  • Swabs from ocular, nasal, and throat mucosal surfaces were collected.
  • Analysis involved both traditional culture plating and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Fifty patients (mean age 37 months) were enrolled.
  • Staphylococcus species predominated in the OSM by both culture and sequencing.
  • Older children showed greater microbiome diversity than infants under 6 months (P=0.05).
  • The OSM closely resembled the nasal microbiome but differed significantly from the throat microbiome.

Conclusions:

  • The pediatric OSM is primarily composed of Staphylococcus species.
  • Age influences OSM complexity, with older children having more diverse microbiomes.
  • 16S sequencing offers a more comprehensive view of the OSM than traditional culture methods.
Abstract

Keywords:
bacteriachildrenmicrobiomeocular surfacepediatric

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