Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Live/Dead Staining for Quantifying Viable but Not Culturable Cells in Manuka Honey-Treated Wound-Causing Bacteria
06:29

Live/Dead Staining for Quantifying Viable but Not Culturable Cells in Manuka Honey-Treated Wound-Causing Bacteria

Published on: April 25, 2025

Resistant microorganisms in head and neck infections

Tony Mazzulli1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital,Toronto, ON. tmazzulli@mtsinai.on.ca

The Journal of Otolaryngology
|August 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial resistance is increasing in common upper respiratory tract pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae. Prudent antibiotic use is crucial to combat evolving resistance and improve patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Common upper respiratory tract infections are caused by key pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Streptococcus pyogenes.
  • Antimicrobial resistance in these bacteria is a growing concern, impacting treatment efficacy.
  • Mechanisms of resistance vary, with beta-lactamase production being standard in M. catarrhalis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolving landscape of antimicrobial resistance in common respiratory pathogens.
  • To highlight the role of antibiotic overuse and misuse in driving resistance.
  • To emphasize the importance of considering resistance when selecting empiric therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of antimicrobial resistance trends in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Streptococcus pyogenes.
  • Analysis of resistance mechanisms and prevalence.
  • Discussion of factors contributing to resistance, such as antibiotic overuse.

Main Results:

  • Antimicrobial resistance is rising in S. pneumoniae.
  • S. pyogenes has not shown resistance to penicillin.
  • Over 90% of M. catarrhalis isolates produce beta-lactamase, rendering them resistant to many beta-lactam antibiotics.
  • Antibiotic overuse and misuse in the community are major drivers of resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Considering antimicrobial resistance is essential for selecting appropriate empiric therapy for respiratory infections.
  • Appropriate antibiotic use is critical to mitigate the escalating problem of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Further research may be needed to clarify the clinical impact of resistance on patient outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

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...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...