Cryptic Bacteria of the Thyroid Tissue as a Possible Cause of the Pathology of This Organ

The Thyroidectomy Wound Inflammation Can be Caused by Microbes Present in the Thyroid Parenchyma - Observational Research

The presence of cryptic microbes has been widely documented in animal healthy deep tissues.

The thyroid gland is an organ specifically exposed to the microbial environment due to its close location to the mouth microbiome. A number of bacterial phenotypes has been detected in the inflamed thyroid gland. A question raises as to whether bacteria have not already been present in the thyroid gland before the clinical symptoms of goiter became evident.

A problem in thyroid surgery, relatively uncommon but difficult for control, is prolonged thyroidectomy wound healing with skin flap, gland bed inflammation and fibrosis. The causative bacteria may belong to the strains persistently present in the thyroid gland parenchyma. Our objective is to answer questions: a) do the goiter tissue structures contain bacteria, b) if so, which bacterial phenotypes can be identified, c) what are the genetic similarities of the thyroid and periodontal bacterial strains.

Studies are carried out in patients with non-toxic multinodular goiter, toxic multinodular goiter, Graves' disease, single adenoma, Hashimoto's disease, thyroid cancer and recurrent thyroid disease. Tissue harvested during surgery is dissected immediately after thyroidectomy into fragments of parenchyma, arteries, veins and lymph nodes and cultured on Columbia blood agar base for up to 3 weeks. In this method bacteria present in the tissue grow in their natural environment, slowly proliferate and then form the on-plate colonies. It enables detection of even single bacteria usually difficult to be identified in planktonic media. Identification of the isolated bacteria is performed. Their DNA patterns are also compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• thyroid disease requiring surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• acute or chronic infection at remote sites
• treated with antibiotics over the last 3 months