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Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
07:47

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage

Published on: February 15, 2013

Pneumococcal carriage is more common in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic young men

Ulla Jounio1, Raija Juvonen, Aini Bloigu

  • 1Institute of Diagnostics, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. ujounio@paju.oulu.fi

The Clinical Respiratory Journal
|October 5, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Asthma significantly increases the risk of Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage in young men. This study found higher pneumococcal colonization rates in asthmatic individuals compared to their non-asthmatic peers.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Investigated the prevalence of key bacterial pathogens in young Finnish men.
  • Focused on oropharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis, and beta-haemolytic streptococci.
  • Compared carriage rates between asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of specific bacterial oropharyngeal carriage in asthmatic versus non-asthmatic young men.
  • To identify potential risk factors associated with this colonization.
  • To assess the impact of asthma on the carriage of common respiratory pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Enrolled 892 young Finnish men (224 asthmatics, 668 non-asthmatics) from military conscripts.
  • Collected oropharyngeal specimens for bacterial analysis using standard culture techniques.
  • Administered questionnaires to gather data on potential risk factors for respiratory infections and asthma.

Main Results:

  • Isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae (5.4%), Haemophilus influenzae (5.0%), Moraxella catarrhalis (2.7%), Neisseria meningitidis (2.2%), and Group A streptococci (1.8%).
  • Asthma was identified as the sole significant risk factor for Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage (OR, 2.04; 95% CI 1.12 to 3.72).
  • Evaluated ten putative risk factors including atopy, smoking, and BMI, with asthma being the only significant predictor for pneumococcal carriage.

Conclusions:

  • Pneumococcal carriage is significantly more prevalent in young men with asthma.
  • Asthma emerges as a key risk factor for Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in this population.
  • Findings highlight the increased susceptibility of asthmatics to carrying pneumococci.

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