MP74-12: The urinary microbiome in those with overactive bladder is more abundant in Escherichia and less abundant in Lactobacillus relative to that of healthy controls
Introduction: The urinary tract harbors its own microbiota. Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common urologic diagnosis, with predominant symptoms being urinary urgency and frequency. We sought to characterize the urinary microbiome of the overactive bladder population and compare that with healthy controls. We hypothesized that the population with OAB would harbor unique patterns of microbiota relative to healthy controls. Understanding the microbiota associated with OAB could open new avenues toward the investigation of alteration of microbiota as a therapeutic strategy for overactive bladder and other urologic conditions. Methods: Female patients age 18 and over with overactive bladder by AUA/SUFU criteria were included, as were a group of control adult female patients without urologic diagnoses. Participants provided a clean catch urine specimen. Samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing, and microbial diversity was determined. Diversity and taxonomic profiles were compared between groups by two-tailed t-tests and PERMANOVA. Results: 46 patients with OAB and 32 healthy controls were included. The OAB group median age was 65.7 (IQR 14.3), and the healthy control group median age was 60.4 (IQR 38.6) and. Microbiota were detected in all urine samples. Beta diversity and phylum profiles differed significantly between groups (Top, p=0.005). Specifically, Firmicutes were less abundant and Proteobacteria were more abundant in the OAB group than the control group (Bottom, P<0.05). 5 Escherichia/Shigella taxa were more abundant in the OAB group (p < 0.001), and 6 Lactobacillus taxa were more abundant in the control group (p < 0.05). There were no Escherichia/Shigella taxa more abundant in the control group, and no Lactobacillus taxa more abundant in the OAB group. Conclusions: The urinary microbiome differed significantly between the selected population with OAB and a healthy control population. Specifically, Lactobacillus genera were more abundant in healthy controls, and Escherichia more abundant in individuals with OAB. Additional study is needed to further delineate the relationship between the microbiome and OAB, whether it may be a cause or effect of the OAB symptom complex, and whether it can be modulated to improve OAB treatment. SOURCE OF Funding: N/A
