Studies on Branhamella Catarrhalis (Neisseria Catarrhalis) with Special Reference to Maxillary Sinusitis

Abstract

Paired sera from 97 patients with acute maxillary sinusitis were examined regarding antibodies to Branhamella catarrhalis. Precipitating antibodies were demonstrated in almost all sera both from patients and from healthy blood donors. Complement-fixing (CF) antibodies to B. catarrhalis were present in sera from 25 of the 97 patients and in one of 20 healthy blood donors. The titres were low and the titre changes when present were of a small magnitude. CF antibodies were most commonly demonstrated in the younger age groups. The patients with demonstrable CF antibodies to B. catarrhalis did not differ from patients without antibodies regarding radiological appearance or healing during therapy. Strains of B. catarrhalis were all rapidly killed by normal human serum but not in heated sera. The strains could not multiplicate significantly at an oxygen tension corresponding to about half the atmospheric value. The possible significance of the serological and bacteriological findings is discussed.

Moraxella catarrhalis: from Emerging to Established Pathogen

“…Complement resistance can be considered a virulence factor of M. catarrhalis: the majority of strains (89%) isolated from lower respiratory tract infections are resistant to complement-mediated killing, whereas strains from the upper respiratory tract of children are mostly sensitive (58%) (117;Hol et al,Letter). Several other authors have tested M. catarrhalis strains for complement resistance (39,51,129,216; R. E. Winn and S. L. Morse, Abstr. 84th Annu.…”

“…Interestingly, in children with asthma, the same distribution of bacterial pathogens is found (238), although Goldenhersch et al (103) isolated M. catarrhalis as the predominant pathogen in subacute or chronic sinusitis (symptoms present for more than 30 days) in children with respiratory allergy. It has been suggested that there is a possible underestimation of isolation rates for M. catarrhalis, since the bacterium stops growing in environments with reduced oxygen concentrations, a condition frequently present during sinusitis and otitis media (39,204). This would indicate an even greater role for M. catarrhalis in the etiology of these infectious diseases.…”

“…Fam. Physician 40:34, 39,1989). Undoubtedly, it is the most serious and frequent infection caused by M. catarrhalis in children, and as such M. catarrhalis causes tremendous morbidity and requires the widespread use of antibiotics (20,58,88,89,97,136,137,230).…”

Historical perspectives and identification of Neisseria and related species

“…However, because B. catarrhalis is distinctly different from the Moraxella spp. in cell morphology and has recently been recognized as a pathogen (21,27,68), the name B. catarrhalis is commonly used, although no formal request has been made to have the name conserved taxonomically.…”

Lower respiratory tract infection

“…catarrhalis causes sinusitis in adults and children (21,95,180). The organism is recovered alone or in combination with other bacteria from direct sinus aspirates obtained from patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of acute bacterial sinusitis.…”