title: Moraxella catarrhalis in acute laryngitis: infection or colonization?
abstract: The complement phenotypes of Moraxella catarrhalis isolates obtained from adult patients with acute laryngitis were investigated using a microliter serum bactericidal assay and compared with those of other donor groups. Laryngitis isolates had a higher proportion (57%) of complement-resistant strains than did carrier strains from healthy 8- to 13-year-old schoolchildren (16%). The difference between these groups was statistically significant (chi2 [3 x 2 table] = 21.55; P < .001). The relatively frequent occurrence of the complement-resistant (virulence-associated) phenotype in adults with acute laryngitis supports the theory of an active role of M. catarrhalis in the pathogenesis of acute laryngitis.
authors.affiliation: Eijkman-Winkler Institute, University Hospital, Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hol
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schalén
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Verduin
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Van Dijke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhoef
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010641:Phenotype; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins