beta-Lactamase-producing Moraxella catarrhalis may prevent the emergence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with recurrent acute otitis media.
We studied the effect of concomitant nasopharyngeal carriage of beta-lactamase producing Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae on the occurrence of penicillin resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae. We took nasopharyngeal samples from 306 children with recurrent otitis media and a history of several antibiotic treatments. We could isolate at least one of the pathogens in 89 subjects. Of these children 13% carried more than one pathogen. Of the isolated M. catarrhalis and H. influenzae strains 93% and 43% produced beta-lactamase, respectively. Of the S. pneumoniae strains 25% were non-susceptible (I/R) to penicillin. However, in patients carrying beta-lactamase-producing M. catarrhalis together with pneumococci all strains were susceptible to penicillin (P=0.0353). This finding suggests that beta-lactamase producing M. catarrhalis may hinder the emergence of penicillin resistance of S. pneumoniae in children with recurrent acute otitis media.
Joki-Erkkilä
Veli-Pekka
VP
Department of Otolaryngology, Tampere University Hospital, PO Box 2000, FIN-33521, Tampere, Finland. vp.jokierkkila@nokianlaakariassema.fi
Aittoniemi
Janne
J
Vuento
Risto
R
Puhakka
Heikki
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D012008:Recurrence; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism; D047090:beta-Lactams
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams; D001618:beta-Lactamases