Nasosinusal microbiota characterization by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: an exploratory study

Ccami-Bernal F.; Barriga-Chambi F.; Zela-Coila F.; Hernandez-Caycho M.; Mares-Cuadros C.; Salas-Palma M.; Torres R.; Ballón-Echegaray J. · Acta Medica Peruana (2026) · DOI: 10.35663/amp.2026.431.4138

Resumen

This study aimed to describe the sinonasal microbiota in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and healthy controls. Middle meatus swab samples were collected from six patients with CRS and twelve healthy controls. Samples were cultured on blood agar, chocolate agar, MacConkey agar, and mannitol salt agar. Bacterial colonies were identified using MALDI-TOF MS. Relative frequencies were described for each group, microbial richness was estimated using the Chao1 index, and groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. The distribution of bacterial genera and species was similar between groups. Healthy samples showed higher estimated microbial richness (Chao1: 53.0 ± 3.1) than CRS samples (Chao1: 26.5 ± 5.9) (p=0.0011). Patients with CRS exhibited lower microbial richness compared with healthy controls. This reduction could be related to chronic sinonasal inflammation. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa