Pneumococcal carriage is more common in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic young men.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to investigate the prevalence of oropharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis and beta-haemolytic streptococci among asthmatic and non-asthmatic young Finnish men and to identify putative risk factors.


OBJECTIVE
A total of 224 asthmatics and 668 non-asthmatic men (mean age 19.6 years) from two intakes of conscripts to the Kainuu Brigade, Finland in July 2004 and January 2005 were enrolled upon entering military service.


METHODS
Oropharyngeal specimens were examined for bacteria by routine culture methods. All the participants filled in questionnaires concerning risk factors for asthma and respiratory infections.


RESULTS
S. pneumoniae (48 cases, 5.4%), Group A streptococci (16, 1.8%), H. influenzae (45, 5.0%), M. catarrhalis (24, 2.7%) and N. meningitidis (20, 2.2%) were isolated from the 892 participants. Ten putative risk factors for oropharyngeal colonization (asthma, atopy, allergic rhinitis, smoking, current use of asthma medication, history of adeno/tonsillectomy, level of highly sensitive C-reactive protein, peak expiratory flow, results of a 12-min running test and body mass index) were evaluated. The only significant risk factor for S. pneumoniae carriage was asthma (OR, 2.04; 95% CI 1.12 to 3.72).


CONCLUSIONS
Pneumococcal carriage is more common in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic young men.
Jounio
Ulla
U
Institute of Diagnostics, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. ujounio@paju.oulu.fi
Juvonen
Raija
R
Bloigu
Aini
A
Silvennoinen-Kassinen
Sylvi
S
Kaijalainen
Tarja
T
Kauma
Heikki
H
Peitso
Ari
A
Saukkoriipi
Annika
A
Vainio
Olli
O
Harju
Terttu
T
Leinonen
Maija
M
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045828:Moraxellaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult