Fecal microbiome profiles in uncomplicated right colonic diverticulitis: An exploratory prospective case-control...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology
• Human Microbiome

Background:

• Right colonic diverticulitis (URCD) is prevalent in East Asian populations.
• The fecal microbiome in URCD remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare fecal microbiome profiles between URCD patients and healthy controls (HC).
• To explore microbiome patterns related to URCD clinical course.

Main Methods:

• Prospective case-control study of 20 URCD patients and 10 HC participants.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing for fecal microbiome analysis.
• Comparison of overall groups and subgroups based on symptom relief and antibiotic use.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in alpha or beta diversity between overall URCD and HC groups.
• Nominal enrichment of Proteobacteria in URCD patients requiring antibiotics before symptom relief (p=0.044, q=0.467).
• Higher Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and differing beta-diversity in URCD patients after symptom relief compared to before (p=0.008 and p=0.003, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Overall fecal microbiome differences in URCD are not readily detectable via case-control comparisons.
• Microbiome patterns may correlate with URCD clinical course, particularly during recovery.
• Larger longitudinal studies with serial sampling are necessary to confirm these findings.