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Otitis Media in Children with Down Syndrome Is Associated with Shifts in the Nasopharyngeal and Middle Ear

Christina L Elling1,2, Salina H Goff3, Scott D Hirsch1

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers
|July 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children with Down syndrome (DS) have altered middle ear and nasopharyngeal bacterial profiles, increasing their susceptibility to otitis media (OM). This study highlights the role of microbiota dysbiosis in DS-related OM.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Otitis media (OM) is a common middle ear infection, frequently diagnosed in young children.
  • Pediatric patients with Down syndrome (DS) experience higher rates, increased severity, and poorer outcomes for OM.
  • Bacterial profiles in children with DS and OM have not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the bacterial profiles of middle ear (ME) and nasopharyngeal (NP) microbiotas in pediatric OM patients with and without DS.
  • To identify differences in bacterial composition and relative abundance of taxa between these groups.

Main Methods:

  • Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from ME and NP samples.
  • Analysis of sequence data for microbial diversity indices and relative abundance of individual taxa.
  • Comparison of microbiota between pediatric OM patients with DS (n=11) and without DS (n=84).

Main Results:

  • Individuals with DS exhibited increased biodiversity in both ME and NP microbiotas.
  • DS was associated with significantly higher biodiversity and a greater relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa in the ME of children with OM.
  • Dysbiosis in the nasopharyngeal microbiota of DS children was observed.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that nasopharyngeal microbiota dysbiosis in children with DS contributes to their heightened susceptibility to otitis media.
  • Down syndrome appears to influence the regulation of mucosal microbiota, playing a role in OM pathology.

Keywords:
16S rRNA gene sequencingDown syndromemicrobiotamiddle earnasopharynxotitis media

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