A Pilot Investigation of the Pediatric Nasal Microbiome

This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that sinonasal microbiome sequencing with suctioned nasal secretions in children is technically feasible. Eighteen children were enrolled: 11 with symptoms of rhinosinusitis and 7 controls. Samples were collected via a sterile flexible respiratory suction catheter into a suction trap. Samples were analyzed with 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and subsequent phylogenic mapping. The log2-fold differential abundance in class demonstrated significantly higher quantities of bacteria from the classes Negativicutes, Bacilli, Mollicutes, and Alphaproteobacteria as compared with controls, with a false discovery rate-corrected P value <.01 for all 4. The experimental group showed a higher range of alpha diversity than the control group, although none of the measures of alpha diversity showed a statistically significant difference. Overall our study demonstrates that sinonasal microbiome sequencing with suctioned nasal secretions is a readily available and technically feasible alternative for study of the pediatric sinonasal microbiome.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of sinonasal microbiome sequencing with suctioned nasal secretions in children. Compared with controls, the experimental group showed significantly higher quantities of specific classes of bacteria and a wider range of alpha diversity.