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[Quantitative changes of bacterial flora from the oral cavity and throat in children with acute lymphoblastic
Z Krzemiński1, E Majda-Stanisławska
1Zakład Mikrobiologii Lekarskiej AM w Lodzi
Insights
Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing intensive treatment show significantly higher levels of oral and throat bacteria, including Gram-negative rods, compared to healthy children. This indicates a compromised oral microbiome in pediatric leukemia patients on cytostatics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Immunology
Context:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common childhood cancer.
- Intensive chemotherapy (cytostatics) can impact the immune system and oral microbiome.
- The oral cavity and throat harbor a complex bacterial ecosystem.
Purpose:
- To quantitatively investigate the aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora in the oral cavity and throat of children with ALL.
- To compare the oral and throat bacterial profiles of leukemic children undergoing cytostatic treatment with those of healthy children.
- To identify specific bacterial changes associated with pediatric leukemia and its treatment.
Summary:
- Saliva samples from 44 children (5-10 years) with ALL treated with cytostatics showed significantly higher aerobic bacteria, especially streptococci and enterococci, compared to 23 healthy controls.
- Throat samples revealed differences primarily in staphylococci presence.
- Notably, Gram-negative rods were detected in leukemic children but absent in the control group, indicating significant dysbiosis.
Impact:
- Findings highlight a significantly altered oral and throat microbiome in pediatric ALL patients undergoing intensive treatment.
- The increased presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria like Gram-negative rods may increase infection risk in immunocompromised children.
- This research underscores the importance of monitoring and potentially managing the oral microbiome in pediatric cancer patients.
Abstract:
Quantitative investigations were carried on aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora of oral cavity and throat in 44 children in the age of 5-10 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, intensively treated with cytostatics, and in 23 healthy children which served as a control group. Samples of saliva from leukemic children revealed significantly higher than in control group--presence of aerobic bacteria, particularly streptococci and enterococci. Material from throat was differing only in regard to staphylococci. Moreover, in children with leukemia, Gram-negative rods were present, which was not the case in the control group.