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Associations between potential bacterial pathogens in the nasopharynx of HIV infected children

Sangeeta Das Bhattacharya1, Swapan Kumar Niyogi, Subhasish Bhattacharyya

  • 1School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India. sangeetab@iitkgp.ac.in

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|May 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

In HIV-infected children, nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae showed a strong positive association, unlike in healthy populations. This finding is crucial for understanding invasive disease risks in this vulnerable group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • HIV/AIDS research
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Children with HIV infection are at increased risk for bacterial infections.
  • Nasopharyngeal carriage of common respiratory pathogens is a key factor in disease transmission and invasiveness.
  • Understanding bacterial co-colonization patterns in immunocompromised children is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the co-colonization patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae in the nasopharynx of children with HIV.
  • To determine if factors like antiretroviral therapy (ART), cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, or malnutrition influence bacterial carriage.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving nasopharyngeal swabs from 148 children with HIV in West Bengal.
  • Prevalence of S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and H. influenzae colonization was determined.
  • Statistical analysis was performed to identify associations between colonization and various factors.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence rates were: S. pneumoniae (28%), S. aureus (24%), and H. influenzae (26%).
  • Dual colonization was observed in 11% (S. pneumoniae/H. influenzae), 8.8% (S. pneumoniae/S. aureus), and 4% (S. aureus/H. influenzae). Triple carriage occurred in 2%.
  • A strong positive association was found between H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae carriage. Malnutrition was negatively associated with H. influenzae colonization. ART and cotrimoxazole did not affect colonization.

Conclusions:

  • The typical negative association between S. pneumoniae and S. aureus colonization was absent in this HIV-infected cohort.
  • A significant positive association between H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae carriage highlights unique microbial dynamics in children with HIV.
  • These findings offer critical insights into the elevated risk of invasive diseases caused by these bacteria in HIV-infected children.
Abstract

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