The nasopharynx harbours a diverse and dynamic microbial community, which plays an important role in maintaining the health and homeostasis of the respiratory tract, as well as in immune system development. Understanding factors that influence the composition of the nasopharyngeal microbiome in children and its association with diseases is of particular importance, as children are at a heightened risk for respiratory infections and other adverse health outcomes.
This review systematically summarises studies which investigated the nasopharyngeal microbiome in children, including its dynamics, stability over time, and the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on its composition.
MEDLINE was searched using the OVID interface. Original studies which investigated the nasopharyngeal microbiome using next generation sequencing in children were summarised.
The search identified 736 studies, of which 77 were included. The studies show that the nasopharyngeal microbiome in children is dynamic and influenced by many external factors. A high abundance of
The association between specific nasopharyngeal microbial profiles and adverse health outcomes highlights the potential of the nasopharyngeal microbiome as a marker for identifying children at risk for disease and even more importantly, as an avenue for targeted interventions and preventive strategies.