THE GUT MICROBIOTA IN PATIENTS WITH NEW-ONSET PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

The paper presents the results investigating the gut microbiota in 56 patients with new-onset pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) before and during treatment. Before the start of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, the vast majority of patients with new-onset PThave been found to have intestinal dysbiotic disorders. Intestinal dysbiosis is manifested by a substantial decrease in the content of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, typical Escherichia coli, and enterococci. Studying the pathogenic microflora revealed that before treatment the level of Candida fungi did not differ from that of healthy people, whereas hemolytic E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were absent. After 1 week and 1 month of anti-tuberculosis therapy, the number of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, typical E. coli, and enterococci continued to remain at a significantly reduced level. The number of Candida fungi increased steadily following 1 week and 1 month of treatment. The alarming factor was that during anti-tuberculosis treatment, the gut microbiota contained pathological microorganisms (hemolytic E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus) that were detected after 1 week and 1 month of treatment.

phthisiology, treatment, pulmonary tuberculosis, anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, gut microbiota