Composition and Comparison of the Ocular Surface Microbiome in Infants and Older Children.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Unlike other microbiomes of the body, the composition of the ocular surface microbiome (OSM) in children has yet to be thoroughly explored. Our goal was to evaluate the OSM in young infants and compare its composition to older children using both culture dependent and independent methodologies to assess for differences with age.

Methods

Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study of children <18 years of age at a university-based institution. The mucosal surfaces of both eyes, nose and throat were swabbed with a forensic-quality swab. Half of the swab was plated for culture and the other half underwent 16S sequencing. Culture results and microbiome diversity were analyzed.

Results

Fifty patients (mean age 37 months, range 1-168 months) were enrolled. For

SUBMITTER: Cavuoto KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6269136 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature