Moraxella catarrhalis--an uncommon cause of community-acquired pneumonia in Swedish children.
In 284 Swedish children with community-acquired, roentgenologically verified pneumonia, antibodies to Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis were determined in paired serum samples with an enzyme immunoassay using a whole-cell antigen preparation from 10 strains of M. catarrhalis. Only 9 children (3%) had significant increases in antibodies to M. catarrhalis. Among these 9 children, 11-39 months of age, 6 had serologic evidence of concurrent infection with other respiratory pathogens such as S. pneumoniae, non-capsulated H. influenza, RS virus and adenovirus. In 6 (67%) of the 9 children with antibody response and in 74 (27%) of the 275 children without antibody response to M. catarrhalis, nasopharyngeal cultures yielded growth of this bacterium. M. catarrhalis seems to be a common commensal in the upper respiratory tract, but a rare cause of pneumonia in children.
Claesson
B A
BA
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Leinonen
M
M
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016870:Neisseriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial