Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Moraxella catarrhalis is part of the normal bacterial flora in the nasopharynx of children,\nalthough over the past two decades, it has emerged as a significant bacterial pathogen\nand not simply a commensal colonizer. The bacterium rapidly colonizes the nasopharynx\nsoon after birth and many factors affect nasopharyngeal carriage of this human-specific\npathogen, including for example, the presence of siblings, day-care attendance and respiratory\nillness. Otitis media (OM) is a particularly important respiratory illness during\nearly childhood and the primary reason for children to visit a physician. The most common\nbacterial species cultured from the nasopharynx of children during OM episodes\nare Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and M. catarrhalis, either as\nsingle pathogens or as co-cultures, with the patterns of nasopharyngeal colonization\nby microorganisms being important determinants for OM disease. There is increasing\ninformation regarding the biological mechanisms facilitating M. catarrhalis-mediated\ncolonization and disease development, with most publications stressing the importance\nof bacterial adherence as an essential step in this process.
Author: Suzanne J. C. Verhaegh
Language: English
Topic: Ear Surgery and Otitis Media
Subfield: Otorhinolaryngology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1917473161