Nasopharyngeal Reservoir of Bacterial Otitis Media and Sinusitis Pathogens in Adults during Wellness and Viral Respiratory Illness

Abstract

Background The carriage rate of pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx (NP) was determined using three separate techniques for obtaining samples. Methods The NP of 99 healthy adults was sampled with (1) nasal swab, (2) oral swab, and (3) nasal aspiration; 49 adults with common cold were sampled with an oral swab and nasal aspiration. Three selective agars were used to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Results Seventy-three percent of healthy adults and 74% of cold sufferers had at least one pathogen detected in the NP. Detection rates were 65% (oral NP swab), 38% (catheter aspiration), and 28% (nasal swab; p < 0.001). Carriage rates for S. pneumoniae, M. catarrhalis, and H. influenzae were 45, 33, and 30%, respectively. Both a nasal and an oral sample were required for optimal detection. Conclusion Bacterial pathogens were present in the NP of three-quarters of adults during wellness and during colds.