Interaction between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Branhamella catarrhalis obtained from double-colonized, healthy nasopharynx and double-infected, diseased middle ear cavity.
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Branhamella catarrhalis were obtained from the double-colonized nasopharynx of 3 healthy carriers and from the double-infected middle ear cavity of 3 patients suffering from acute otitis media. The bacterial strains were isolated and injected both separately and together into brain-heart infusion broth. Separately injected, both S. pneumoniae and B. catarrhalis survived in the broth for at least 48 h. When injected together, B. catarrhalis was completely suppressed after 16-24 h, whereas S. pneumoniae survived for at least 48 h. Thus S. pneumoniae had a remarkable inhibitory growth effect on B. catarrhalis, which can explain why double-infected middle ear cavities so seldom are found during acute otitis media.
Stenfors
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LE
Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital of Keski-Pohjanmaa, Kokkola, Finland.
Räisänen
S
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D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors