Biogeography of Microorganisms in Kindergarten Reveals Higher Pathogenic Burden in Children Hands.

The increasing number of children in kindergartens increases exposure to microorganisms and their associated infectious diseases. To better manage hygiene levels and minimizing the spread of illnesses, it is crucial to understand the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms present in the kindergarten setting. In this study, eight sites in a kindergarten were sampled and analyzed with a metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) method to characterize the microorganisms present with species-level resolution. Amongst the sites, children's hands were found to possess the highest relative abundance of pathogenic microorganisms, with oral bacteria being the predominant species. These findings provide a better understanding of the pathogenic microorganisms present in the kindergarten environment, and also a clue for assessing and tackling potential infections arising from such exposure.