Interpreting Your qPCR+NGS Level 2 Report

CRS vs. normal microbiome

  • The normal sinus microbiome is rich in diversity with a large number (6-10) of microbes
  • A diseased state exhibits less biodiversity, less richness, and less evenness
  • The normal sinus microbiome tends to be dominated by Staph epi and/or C. acnes
  • Pathogens can be present in a healthy microbiome, but in low abundances
  • Select bacteria – such as Staph aures and anaerobes like Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides spp. and Peptostreptococcus spp. – are more abundant in CRS diseased sinuses

CSOM vs. normal microbiome

  • Some percentage of healthy middle ear have a bacterial microbiome, though with a low bioburden
  • A healthy middle ear microbiome can contain pathogens such as Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, and Moraxella
  • A healthy middle ear microbiome has a higher abundance of Cutibacterium