Microbiota of the upper respiratory tract in children with chronic adenoiditis

Background. Routine application of the GC-MS method to assess the URT microbiota can potentially improve the efficacy and safety of treatment for chronic respiratory diseases.

Aim. To perform a comparative analysis of the microbiota from the surface of the pharyngeal tonsil, from the deep parts of the nose, and saliva in children with chronic adenoiditis.

Materials and methods. The study included 90 patients with chronic adenoiditis (CA) and/or pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy (PTH). All study participants had swabs taken from the surface of the pharyngeal tonsil, from the deep parts of the nasal cavity, and saliva as a biological fluid of the oral cavity. Microorganisms were identified by specific fatty acids using GC-MS to assess the composition of the microbial community on the surface of the pharyngeal tonsil.

Results. The study showed that the microbiota of the nasopharynx is identical in its qualitative composition to microorganisms from the deep parts of the nose. However, according to the results of the analysis of microbial markers of saliva, the oral microbiota showed significant differences in the quantitative and qualitative composition of microorganisms compared with the nasopharyngeal microbiota.

Conclusion. The introduction of the GC-MS method for assessing the URT microbiota enables its monitoring in clinical practice for the treatment of chronic respiratory system diseases without disturbing the ecology of the mucous membranes and the whole body.