New insights into the fecal microbiota of children living in a slum: association with small bowel bacterial overgrowth ☆ , ☆☆

摘要

The study by Mello et al. from the group of Dr. Mauro Batistade Morais provides additional information on the impact ofliving in a slum on small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SIBO),as well as some nutritional and anthropometric parameters,and adds new data on the fecal microbiota composition.1Using real time-PCR technique, the authors compared thecomposition of the fecal microbiota of children with orwithout SIBO and presence of stunting and hemoglobin status and anemia. At total of 100 children, aged between 5and 11 years, who lived in a slum in the outskirts of S?oPaulo, Brazil, were studied. SIBO was diagnosed by means of a hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) breath test (BT)following the ingestion of 10 g lactulose. Results showedthat 61% of the children studied had a BT compatible withSIBO and a lower mean height/age-score ([?0.48 ± 0.90] vs.[?0.11 ± 0.97]; p = 0.027), as well as capillary hemoglobin([12.61 ± 1.03 g/dL] vs. [13.44 ± 1.19 g/dL]; p 0.001). Children with SIBO presented a higher frequency of Salmonellaspp. when compared to those without SIBO (37.7% vs. 10.3%;p = 0.002). Higher counts of total Eubacteria (p = 0.014) andFirmicutes (p = 0.038) were observed in children withoutSIBO, while a higher count of Salmonella (p = 0.002) wasfound in those with SIBO.