title: Community analysis of dental plaque and endotracheal tube biofilms from mechanically ventilated patients.
abstract: Mechanically ventilated patients are at risk for developing ventilator-associated pneumonia, and it has been reported that dental plaque provides a reservoir of respiratory pathogens that may aspirate to the lungs and endotracheal tube (ETT) biofilms. For the first time, metataxonomics was used to simultaneously characterize the microbiome of dental plaque, ETTs, and non-directed bronchial lavages (NBLs) in mechanically ventilated patients to determine similarities in respective microbial communities and therefore likely associations.
  
  
  
  Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences from 34 samples of dental plaque, NBLs, and ETTs from 12 adult mechanically ventilated patients were analyzed.
  
  
  
  No significant differences in the microbial communities of these samples were evident. Detected bacteria were primarily oral species (e.g., Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus salivarius, Prevotella melaninogenica) with respiratory pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcuspneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae) also in high abundance.
  
  
  
  The high similarity between the microbiomes of dental plaque, NBLs, and ETTs suggests that the oral cavity is indeed an important site involved in microbial aspiration to the lower airway and ETT. As such, maintenance of good oral hygiene is likely to be highly important in limiting aspiration of bacteria in this vulnerable patient group.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Electronic address: paola_marino@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Poala J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mattwise@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Matt P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Electronic address: SmithA53@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: MarchesiJR@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Julian R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.affiliation: Dental School, University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, United Kingdom. Electronic address: marcello.riggio@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marcello P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Electronic address: lewismao@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael A O
authors.initials: MAO
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Electronic address: williamsdd@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018441:Biofilms; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Dental plaque; Endotracheal tube biofilm; Mechanical ventilation; Metataxonomics