Increased pharyngeal bacterial colonization during viral illness

Abstract

The oropharyngeal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) and its duration were studied in 89 house staff officers, with biweekly quantitative cultures for 11 months. Eighty-two episodes of upper respiratory tract infection were documented during the study period. The oropharyngeal colonization during illness-free periods ranged from 12% to 18% for GNB and from 5% to 14% for S aureus. During an episode of upper respiratory tract infection, the oropharyngeal colonization of GNB increased to 60%; S aureus colonization increased to 43%. The colonization with both GNB and S aureus was transient and lasted for approximately two weeks. The increased colonization by S aureus and GNB during a viral respiratory tract infection may be a factor contributing to the increased risk of pneumonia in patients with this condition.

Effect of Antibiotics on the Oropharyngeal Flora in Patients With Acne

“…Reported carrier rates of S pyogenes in asymptomatic individuals without acne has ranged from in 1.3% in those older than 10 years 19 to 4.2% in those older than 17 years. 20 Likewise, the prevalence of S aureus in the asymptomatic nonantibiotic group was higher than the 5% to 14% carrier rate reported in healthy medical house officers without acne 21 and the 6.5% reported in those older than 10 years. 19 This suggests that patients with acne may have higher baseline rates of bacteria in their oropharynx than those without acne.…”

Factors enhancing adherence of toxigenicStaphylococcus aureusto epithelial cells and their possible role in sudden infant death syndrome

“…If Lewisa is one of the receptors for some strains of staphylococci or group A streptococei capable of producing pyrogenic toxins, the expression of this antigen among young infants might enhance their colonization by these bacteria. Viral infections have been shown to enhance carriage of staphylococci [24]; and disease due to TSST-1 has been reported to follow influenza or "flu-like' illnesses [35] [37]. Smoking also enhances susceptibility to respiratory viral infections; and epithelial cells from individuals with natural or experimental viral infections bound more staphylococci compared with those from individuals who were not infected with a virus [37].…”

“…It has been reported that both natural and experimental viral infections enhance colonization by S. aureuis [24]. RSV infected cells bind greater numbers of Neisseria meningitidis and type b Haemophilus influenzae compared with uninfected cells [25].…”

Bacterial flora of Tasmanian SIDS infants with special reference to pathogenic strains ofEscherichia coli

“…An analysis of rotaviral and adenoviral antigen in conjunction with our bacterial survey indicated that 30 % of the SIDS cases were positive, versus a 20 % isolation in comparison cases. A viral infection of this nature has been suggested as being responsible for the unusual bacteriological flora observed in many SIDS cases [10], and studies on such viral infections have indicated their ability to disturb the commensal flora [31].…”