Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 27, 2026

Murine Oropharyngeal Aspiration Model of Ventilator-associated and Hospital-acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
04:32

Murine Oropharyngeal Aspiration Model of Ventilator-associated and Hospital-acquired Bacterial Pneumonia

Published on: June 28, 2018

Prospective study of respiratory infections at the U.S. Naval Academy

G C Gray1, R G Schultz, G D Gackstetter

  • 1Department of Defense Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, P.O. Box 85122, San Diego, CA 92186-5122, USA. gray@nhrc.navy.mil

Military Medicine
|September 25, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory infections frequently impacted U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen, often caused by bacteria like Chlamydia pneumoniae. These illnesses significantly affected training performance during their first year.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Military Medicine

Background:

  • Epidemics of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) have affected midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.
  • Understanding the causative agents is crucial for mitigating URTIs in military training environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the pathogens responsible for acute respiratory disease among new midshipmen.
  • To assess the prevalence and impact of respiratory infections on training.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 1,243 new midshipmen over 11 months.
  • Medical evaluations for 85 symptomatic individuals.
  • Diagnostic testing including culture, serology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • End-of-year questionnaire for symptom reporting and impact assessment.

Main Results:

  • Chlamydia pneumoniae was the most common pathogen (52.6%), followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (25.3%), influenza (14.2%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (7.3%).
  • 81% of surveyed midshipmen reported respiratory symptoms, with 15% indicating significant impact on performance.
  • Respiratory infections were frequent and often pathogen-driven.

Conclusions:

  • Respiratory infections pose a significant challenge to military training programs.
  • Bacterial pathogens, particularly Chlamydia pneumoniae, are frequent causes of respiratory illness in this population.
  • Effective prevention and treatment strategies are needed to minimize training disruptions.

More Related Videos

Assessing Respiratory Immune Responses to Haemophilus Influenzae06:32

Assessing Respiratory Immune Responses to Haemophilus Influenzae

Published on: June 29, 2021

Experimental Model to Evaluate Resolution of Pneumonia09:49

Experimental Model to Evaluate Resolution of Pneumonia

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

The Respiratory System01:16

The Respiratory System

The respiratory system is comprised of the organs that enable breathing. Air enters the nostrils and mouth, followed by the pharynx (throat) and larynx (voice box), which lead to the trachea (windpipe). In the thoracic cavity, the trachea splits into two bronchi that allow air to enter the lungs. The bronchi split into progressively smaller bronchioles and terminate in small groups of tiny sacs in the lungs called alveoli, where gas exchange occurs.
Assessment of Respiration01:23

Assessment of Respiration

The respiratory system's basic structures and primary functions lay the foundation for nurses' comprehensive respiratory assessments. This assessment includes subjective and objective data to gauge the patient's respiratory health.
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History01:28

Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History

Physical assessment of the respiratory tract is critical to patient care. It allows healthcare professionals to identify and manage various respiratory conditions. The process involves a combination of subjective and objective data collection.
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and key...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...