Risk factors for carriage of AOM pathogens during the first 3 years of life in children with early onset of acute otitis media.
CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors associated with increased carriage rates are the same in children with recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) as in healthy children. These are also known to be risk factors for the development of AOM itself.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe risk factors for nasopharyngeal carriage in a cohort of young children at high risk of developing rAOM.


METHODS
Children with an onset of AOM before 6 months of age, indicating an 80% risk of developing rAOM, were enrolled in a vaccination trial on heptavalent PCV. These children were monitored for 3 years during healthy and AOM periods with nasopharyngeal cultures, physical examinations, and questionnaires.


RESULTS
A total of 109 children were included at a mean age of 5 months; 105 were followed for 3 years, 89 (82%) of whom developed rAOM. Risk factors associated with increased carriage of all major AOM pathogens were age <2 years, concurrent AOM, and fulfilment of rAOM criteria. Having siblings in day care was associated with increased carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, recent antibiotic treatment was associated with H. influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis carriage, and winter season was associated with M. catarrhalis carriage alone.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Lund University Hospital , Lund.
Marie
M
Gisselsson-Solén
Gunnel
G
Henriksson
Ann
A
Hermansson
Asa
A
Melhus
D000208:Acute Disease; D017668:Age of Onset; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines
Haemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis; Otitis-prone children; Streptococcus pneumoniae; day care; nasopharyngeal carriage; nasopharyngeal colonization; rAOM; season