Oropharyngeal microbiome in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and after adenotonsillectomy

Abstract

Background

The microbiome of tonsils and adenoid in adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) has been profiled. Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is widely used for ATH in children. The variation of the oropharyngeal microecology in children with ATH or after AT have never been studied.

Objectives

Here we aimed to evaluate the change in oropharyngeal microbiome in ATH Children after AT.

Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, throat swabs for microbiome analysis were collected from ATH, AT and control groups. Using 16s rDNA sequencing, this study investigated the characteristics of oropharyngeal microbiome.

Results

The α-diversity showed a statistical difference in richness and the β-diversity was significantly different among the three groups. The relative abundance of Haemophilus (member of Proteobacteria) increased but that of Actinomyces (member of Actinobacteriota) decreased in the ATH group compared to those in the AT and control groups, but their abundances showed no statistical difference between the AT and control groups.

Conclusions

The oropharyngeal microbial diversity and composition are disrupted in children with ATH and can be restored after AT. This microbiome analysis provides a new understanding about the pathogenesis of ATH in children.

Summary

• In this study, we aimed to evaluate the change in oropharyngeal microbiome in ATH Children after AT. The oropharyngeal microbial diversity and composition are disrupted in children with ATH and can be restored after AT.

Chinese Abstract

背景：腺样体扁桃体肥大 (ATH) 的扁桃体和腺样体的微生物组已被描述。 腺样体扁桃体切除术 (AT) 广泛用于儿童 ATH患者。ATH 患儿或 接受AT 的患儿的口咽微生态学变化从未被研究过。

目的：评估 ATH 儿童在AT 之后口咽微生物组的变化。

材料和方法：在这项横断面研究中, 从 ATH、AT 和对照组收集咽拭子进行微生物组分析。 使用 16s rDNA 测序, 调查了口咽微生物组的特征。

结果：三组之间, α-多样性在丰富度上有统计学差异, β-多样性有显著的区别。 与 AT 组和对照组相比, ATH 组的嗜血杆菌（Proteobacteria 成员）相对丰度增加, 放线菌（Actinobacteriota成员）减少, 但它们的丰度在AT 和对照组之间在统计上没有差异。

结论：ATH儿童患者的口咽部微生物多样性和组成被损害, 而AT 之后可以恢复。 这种微生物组分析提供了对儿童 ATH 的发病机制的新认识。

Keywords:

• Microbiome
• oropharyngeal
• adenotonsillar hypertrophy
• adenotonsillectomy

Level of Evidence:

• 4

Disclosure statement

There is no potential conflict of interest in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.