Nasopharyngeal carriage of Haemophilus influenzae.
OBJECTIVE
Nasopharyngeal colonization of Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) in young children may be important in developing countries.


METHODS
In this study, we screened school going children for carriage of H. influenzae. A total of 44 H. influenzae isolates out of a collection of 162 were characterized for biotypes, capsular serotypes and antibiotic resistance.


RESULTS
A significant proportion of H. influenzae (25/44) isolates were serotype b. High antibiotic resistance was observed against commonly administered antibiotics like ampicillin (79%), chloramphenicol (20%), trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (84%) and erythromycin (95%). Comparison of antibiotic resistance profile of nasopharyngeal isolates was observed to be correlated with those of H. influenzae from disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Multidrug resistant nasopharyngeal H. influenzae in young healthy children may act as reservoir. Monitoring of antibiotic resistance among nasopharyngeal H. influenzae as a surrogate for invasive H. influenzae seems an attractive option.
Das
B K
BK
Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Bimal@aiims.aiims.ac.in
Arora
N K
NK
Mathur
P
P
Ostwal
P
P
Mandal
S
S
Kabra
S K
SK
Kapil
A
A
Lalitha
M K
MK
Thomas
K
K
D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents