
The dysbiosis of the oral microbiome can lead to chronic diseases like dental caries and periodontitis. Severely disabled individuals who require nutritional supply via nasogastric (NG) tubes may further impact their oral condition and microbial composition. This study used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the tongue microbiome of 27 NG-tube-fed and 26 orally-fed patients. The results showed that the microbial compositions were significantly different, with NG-tube-fed patients having more Gram-negative aerobes, including opportunistic pathogens like Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium associated with pneumonia with lower levels of commensal Streptococcus and Veillonella. This study provides insights into the impact of long-term NG tube feeding on the oral microbiome in older patients.
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