The aim of this study is to investigate whether the microbiota in the upper respiratory tract (nasopharynx, adenoids and middle ear fluid) of otitis media with effusion (OME) patients is changed after 4 weeks of probiotic product intake. Therefore, bacterial DNA from swabs, fluid and tissue will be isolated via commercially available DNA extraction kits, followed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing in order to identify the bacterial species present in these samples. Furthermore, the concentration of specific pathogens will be monitored via qPCR.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
37
6 droplets of Probactiol Mini contain 1 billion bacteria (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12)
Antwerp University Hospital
Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium
Microbiome differences
After Illumina MiSeq sequencing, bio-informatic tools will be used to cluster bacteria into operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Based on these OTUs, we will compare the composition of the bacteria in the sampled niches and compare this composition between patient with and without intake of probiotics. We will specifically screen for OTUs that are over- or underrepresented in both populations. Furthermore, special attention will go to screen for the typical nasopharyngeal pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis... and also to beneficial microbes such as lactic acid bacteria.
Time frame: 4 years
Differences in absolute concentration of otitis media pathogens
After DNA extraction of the biological samples, the absolute concentration of the administered probiotics and otitis media pathogens will be monitored via qPCR. This will give information about the capacity of the probiotics to colonise the nasopharynx and to alter the concentration of pathogens.
Time frame: 4 years
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