Impact of Antibiotics on the Lung Microbiome and Lung Function in Children With Cystic Fibrosis 1 Year After Hospitalization for an Initial Pulmonary Exacerbation

Authors

Zaina Inam, Pediatric Residency Program, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Erin Felton, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Aszia Burrell, Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Hollis Chaney, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Iman Sami, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Anastassios C. Koumbourlis, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Robert J. Freishtat, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Edith T. Zemanick, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Keith A. Crandall, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Andrea Hahn, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-1-2022

Journal

Open forum infectious diseases

Volume

9

Issue

9

DOI

10.1093/ofid/ofac466

Keywords

antibiotics; cystic fibrosis; microbiome; pulmonary exacerbations

Abstract

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by recurrent pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) and lung function decline. PEx are frequently treated with antibiotics. However, little is known about the effects of antibiotics on the airway microbiome of persons with CF over time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the microbiome and lung function in persons with CF over 1 year following an initial study pulmonary exacerbation (iPEx). Methods: Twenty children aged ≤18 years with CF were enrolled in the study, which occurred prior to the routine administration of highly effective modulator therapy. Respiratory samples and spirometry were obtained at a minimum of quarterly visits and up to 1 year after an iPEx. Metagenomic sequencing was performed, and bacterial taxa were assigned using MetaPhlAn 2.0. Paired test, analysis of variance, and generalized least squares regression were used to compare outcome variables. Results: The mean age of study participants at the time of the iPEx was 10.6 years. There were 3 ± 1.6 PEx treated with antibiotics per person during the study period. Bacterial richness was similar at 1 year compared to iPEx (40.3 vs 39.3,  = .852), whereas the mean Shannon diversity index was significantly higher at 1 year (2.84 vs 1.62,  < .001). The number of PEx treated with antibiotics was not associated with changes in microbial diversity but was associated with changes in lung function. Conclusions: In our 1-year prospective study, we found that microbial diversity increased despite decreases in lung function associated with repeated PEx events requiring antibiotic therapy.

APA Citation

Inam, Zaina; Felton, Erin; Burrell, Aszia; Chaney, Hollis; Sami, Iman; Koumbourlis, Anastassios C.; Freishtat, Robert J.; Zemanick, Edith T.; Crandall, Keith A.; and Hahn, Andrea, "Impact of Antibiotics on the Lung Microbiome and Lung Function in Children With Cystic Fibrosis 1 Year After Hospitalization for an Initial Pulmonary Exacerbation" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1639.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1639

Department

Pediatrics