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Microbiome of the Middle Meatus, Tonsils, and Adenoids in Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Katie Liu1, Nicola Pereira1, Tejas Subramanian1
1Department of Otolaryngology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.
Insights
Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (PCRS) microbiome analysis revealed no significant differences between patients and controls. However, distinct microbial communities exist across different anatomical sites in the upper airway.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (PCRS) significantly impacts children's quality of life.
- Understanding the sinonasal microbiome is crucial for diagnosing and treating PCRS.
- Previous studies have yielded inconsistent findings regarding the PCRS microbiome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sinonasal microbiome composition in pediatric patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis.
- To investigate microbial diversity and abundance across the adenoid, palatine tonsil, and middle meatus (MM) in pediatric subjects.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, quantitative case-control study was conducted.
- 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was performed on samples from 20 PCRS patients and 20 controls undergoing adenoidectomy.
- Microbial alpha and beta diversity were analyzed using Simpson's and Bray-Curtis indices, respectively.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in alpha diversity were observed between PCRS patients and controls.
- Microbial composition varied significantly across the adenoid, tonsil, and MM sites (P < .001).
- The dissimilarity in bacterial composition between the adenoid and MM was greater in controls than in PCRS patients.
Conclusions:
- While overall microbial diversity and composition did not differ between PCRS patients and controls, significant variations exist between anatomical sites.
- The findings suggest potential adenoid colonization of the middle meatus in PCRS patients, indicated by altered bacterial dissimilarity.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of the microbiome in PCRS pathogenesis.
Objective:
Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (PCRS) is a common condition with a significant impact on quality of life. This study compares the microbiome of pediatric patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis.
Study Design:
Single-center, prospective, quantitative case-control.
Setting:
Metropolitan.
Methods:
Patients undergoing adenoidectomy for PCRS (subjects, n = 20) or obstructive sleep apnea (controls, n = 20) were recruited. 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was performed on the right middle meatus (MM), adenoid, and palatine tonsil samples from each patient. Alpha diversity was measured by the Simpson's diversity index, beta diversity was measured by the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index, and the differential abundance of bacteria genera was analyzed.
Results:
There were 40 adenoid, 40 tonsil, and 37 MM samples analyzed. There was no significant difference in alpha diversity between controls and subjects. Tonsils were significantly more diverse than the adenoids, which were more diverse than the MM (P < .001). There was no difference in bacterial composition between controls and subjects, but the composition of the 3 sites were significantly different (P < .001). The dissimilarity in bacterial composition between the adenoid and MM sites was larger in the control group than in the subject group.
Conclusion:
There were significant differences in alpha diversity and bacterial composition between the anatomic 3 sites; however, there was no difference between the controls and subjects. The larger dissimilarity in bacterial composition between adenoid and MM sites in controls compared to subjects suggests there may be colonization of the MM by the adenoid in PCRS patients.
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