title: The role of the human microbiome in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery: a contemporary review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The human microbiome represents the collective genomes and gene products of microbes living within and on humans. The objective of this review is to provide a summary of the current microbiome literature pertaining to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovid MEDLINE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scientific publications with clinical correlates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human microbiome studies have been facilitated by culture-independent, high-throughput sequencing methods. Data from the Human Microbiome Project has shown that the composition of the human microbiome is specific to each body site and that each individual has a unique microbiome. Alterations in the human microbiome are associated with some disease states; thus, novel therapeutic strategies are being developed based on concepts and findings stemming from microbiome research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a growing body of research shows potential significance of the human microbiome for human health and disease, there is a paucity of microbiome studies in otolaryngology. More studies are required to increase our understanding of the indigenous microbiota and their effects on diseases of the head and neck.
authors.affiliation: IWK Health Centre, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nordstrom
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lalwani
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D009333:Neck / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Microbiome; head and neck surgery; human; microbiota; otolaryngology