Nasal cavity microbiota features among people who have had COVID-19

Abstract

The new coronavirus infection of 2019 is accompanied by damage to a number of organs, tissues, systems of the human body, including the microbiome. However, some aspects of the influence of this infection on the state of the microbiota of individual biotopes in individuals vaccinated with the Gam-COVIDVac vaccine require further research.Purpose: to study the characteristics of the nasal microbiota in vaccinated Gam-COVID-Vac and non-vaccinated individuals who have had COVID-19.Materials and methods: 60 people aged 18 to 23 years old were examined, divided into 3 equal groups: group 1 – vaccinated, sick after vaccination, group 2 – not vaccinated, recovered, group 3 (control) – not sick and not vaccinated. In all examined persons, muconasal secretions from the nasal cavity were examined using conventional bacteriological methods.Results. In the group of unvaccinated and recovered patients, the coronavirus infection caused a significant change in the composition of the nasal cavity microbiota in the form of a significant increase in the number of opportunistic microorganisms (S. aureus, E. coli, Streptococcus spp;) relative to similar indicators in the control group (who had not recovered from the disease and were not vaccinated). In vaccinated and recovering individuals compared with the control group, the changes are unreliable.Conclusion: Transmission of COVID-19 in individuals vaccinated with the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine does not lead to changes in the nasal microbiota. Significant changes in the microbiota with an increase in the number of opportunistic microorganisms were found in unvaccinated individuals who underwent COVID-19.