Microbiological investigation of samples collected from healthy middle ears during cochlear implant surgery

This study aimed to investigate the bacteriome in microscopically healthy middle ear mucosa using Next -generation sequencing (NGS) technology. A total of 60 middle ear washing fluids of pediatric and adult were obtained from 47 patients (35 children and 12 adults). Both children and adults with normal middle ears har -bored diverse bacteriome. Seventeen different genera with a mean relative abundance of more than 1% were detected in all samples. Both in adult and children, the most abundant genus was Propionibacterium followed by Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Ralstonia. The species Propionibacterium acnes and Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum were significantly more abundant in the adult group. Although there were differences in the prevalence and relative abundance of some bacteria observed from adult and child groups, no specific genus or species was detected only in children or adults. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found a diverse bacteriome in both pediatric and adult healthy middle ears, with Propionibacterium being the most abundant genus. While there were differences in the bacterial composition and abundance between adults and children, there were no specific genera or species detected exclusively in one group.