ISSN:
1434-4726
Keywords:
Otitis media with effusion
;
Nasopharyngeal bacterial interference
;
α-Streptococcus
;
Children
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract A study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of nasopharyngeal α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against pathogens, as a defense mechanism of the normal bacterial flora against infection. Cultures were taken from the nasopharynges of 43 children with otitis media with effusion (OME). The detection rates of α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococus aureus and group A streptococci were significantly lower in the nasopharynx than those isolated from the tonsils of the same patients. Moreover, the detection rates of α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against all of these pathogens derived from the nasopharynx were lower than those in healthy children, streptococcal strains with activity against H. influenzae and Strep. pneumoniae were also lower than that in patients with tonsillitis. These findings suggest that low nasopharyngeal levels of α-streptococci with inhibitory activity against respiratory pathogens may render children susceptible to OME. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationships between the prevalence of pathogens in the nasopharynx and the inhibitory activities of α-streptococci against them in order to devise and select optimal treatment for patients with OME.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00171139
Permalink
