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Differences in nasopharyngeal bacterial carriage in preschool children from different socio-economic origins

S Jourdain1, P R Smeesters, O Denis

  • 1Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie Bactérienne, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium. sajourda@ulb.ac.be

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|October 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Socio-economic status significantly impacts nasopharyngeal flora in preschool children, affecting colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae and other bacteria, even after PCV7 vaccine introduction.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Nasopharyngeal colonization by key respiratory pathogens is common in young children.
  • The introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 7 (PCV7) aimed to reduce Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage and disease.
  • Socio-economic disparities may influence microbial flora and antibiotic resistance patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae.
  • To assess the impact of socio-economic status on bacterial flora composition and antibiotic resistance.
  • To analyze bacterial associations and risk factors for carriage in preschool children during PCV7 introduction.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 333 healthy preschool children (3-6 years) in Brussels (2006-2008).
  • Collection of 830 nasopharyngeal samples with epidemiological data.
  • Analysis of pneumococcal serotypes, antibiotic resistance, carriage risk factors, and bacterial associations using multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • High carriage rates observed for all pathogens: S. aureus (50%), S. pneumoniae (69%), M. catarrhalis (67%), H. influenzae (83%).
  • PCV7 uptake was higher in higher socio-economic settings; S. pneumoniae serotypes varied accordingly.
  • Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds had increased carriage of M. catarrhalis, S. aureus, and antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae, including non-typeable strains.

Conclusions:

  • Nasopharyngeal flora composition in children is influenced by both age and socio-economic status.
  • Socio-economic factors play a role in the distribution of specific bacterial species and antibiotic resistance.
  • The child's nasopharynx is a dynamic environment influenced by bacterial interactions, host immunity, and PCV7 immunization.

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