The fecal and mucosal microbiome in acute appendicitis patients: an observational study

Toon Peeters*, John Penders, Sanne P. Smeekens, Gianluca Galazzo, Bert Houben, Mihai G. Netea, Paul H. M. Savelkoul, Inge C. Gyssens*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to study the mucosal microbiota of the appendix in a prospective appendicitis cohort and to compare the fecal microbiota of patients and controls. We hypothesized that the microbiota may be associated with susceptibility to appendicitis. Patients & methods: The fecal microbiota of 99 patients and 106 controls were characterized using 16S-23S intergenic spacer profiling. Richness, diversity and community structure were compared. The appendiceal microbiota from 90 patients was analyzed according to the severity of appendicitis. Results: Overall fecal microbial richness and diversity were similar in patients and controls, yet richness and diversity within the group of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria and Verrucomicrobia phyla were lower in patients. Discriminant analyses could correctly classify patients and controls with fair accuracy. No differences were found according to severity in appendiceal or fecal microbiota. Conclusion: This study demonstrates differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota of appendicitis patients and healthy individuals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)111-127
Number of pages17
JournalFuture Microbiology
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2019

Keywords

  • APPENDECTOMY
  • BURDEN
  • DISEASE
  • GUT MICROBIOME
  • acute appendicitis
  • adult population
  • dysbiosis
  • intestinal microbiota
  • microbiome
  • prospective cohort study
  • CHILDREN

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