Age and antibiotic use influence longitudinal dynamics of the upper respiratory microbiome in children with recurrent acute otitis media

Ear infections are the most common bacterial infection among young children and the leading cause of healthcare visits and antibiotic prescriptions. This study explores the connection between the microbiome of the nose-the community of microorganisms that live in different areas of the human body-and recurrent ear infections in young children. An analysis of nasal swabs collected from 58 children over a year showed that as children age, they tend to have fewer bacterial pathogens and more species that are associated with a healthy state in their microbiomes. These more mature microbiomes were associated with fewer ear infections. In contrast, recent use of antibiotics was associated with microbiomes that had more bacterial pathogens and that were associated with greater ear infection incidence. Overall, these findings indicate that the microbiome may be a key factor in reduced ear infections as children age.