title: Oropharyngeal Kingella kingae carriage in children: characteristics and correlation with osteoarticular infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate changes in oropharyngeal K. kingae carriage during the first 4 y of life, including seasonal variation and comparison of asymptomatic carriage with cases of invasive osteoarticular infections (OAI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Oropharyngeal bacterial K. kingae carriage was screened in 744 healthy children aged 7-48 mo between January 2009 and December 2012. Oropharyngeal swabs were analyzed by rt-PCR targeting the DNA of K. kingae RTX toxin, epidemiological characteristics of asymptomatic carriers and OAI case patients were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The carriage prevalence showed no significant difference between age groups or seasons. Compared with asymptomatic carriers, OAI cases were more likely to be aged from 7 to 12 mo (OR = 2.5; 95% CI (1.2-5.0)) and 13-24 mo (OR = 2.2; 95% CI (1.2-3.9)), and less likely over 36 mo (OR = 0.2; 95% CI (0.1-0.7)). Fewer OAI cases were identified in spring compared to asymptomatic carriers (OR = 0.3; 95% CI (0.1-0.7)), while more were detected in autumn (OR = 2.5; 95% CI (1.4-4.4)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although oropharyngeal K. kingae colonization is a prerequisite for further invasive infection, this epidemiological study emphasizes that the carriage rate variations do not correlate with the variations of OAI incidence by gender, season, or age group.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Orthopedic Service, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Child and Adolescent Department, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson de la Llana
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Orthopedic Service, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dubois-Ferriere
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Sport Medicine and Obesity Care Program, Child and Adolescent Department, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Albane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Abdessalam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherkaoui
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Department, Child and Adolescent Department, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gesuele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Renzi
authors.affiliation: Genomic Research Laboratory, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hibbs
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.|Genomic Research Laboratory, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schrenzel
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Orthopedic Service, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ceroni
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001850:Bone Diseases, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D017882:Kingella kingae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D016870:Neisseriaceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial