Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
07:47

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage

Published on: February 15, 2013

16.4K

Epidemiological Markers for Interactions Among Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus

Joseph A Lewnard1, Noga Givon-Lavi2, Amit Huppert3

  • 1Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|December 26, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Polymicrobial carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus in children suggests true interactions, not just confounding factors. Pneumococcal vaccination did not alter overall carriage of these key respiratory pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Microbiome research
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Cocolonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae is common in children.
  • An inverse relationship exists between Streptococcus pneumoniae/Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus colonization.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting outcomes of clinical interventions like pneumococcal vaccination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate polymicrobial carriage patterns among children.
  • To determine if observed cocolonization patterns are due to true interspecies interactions or confounding factors.
  • To assess the impact of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) on carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 769 children (369 Bedouin, 400 Jewish) in Israel.
  • Data collected from a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) trial.
  • Children were swabbed 10 times between 2 and 30 months of age to analyze polymicrobial carriage.

Main Results:

  • Distinct age and seasonal distributions were observed for the pathogens.
  • Polymicrobial carriage associations remained significant after controlling for age and season.
  • PCV7 introduction led to pneumococcal serotype replacement but did not affect the overall carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Staphylococcus aureus.

Conclusions:

  • The persistence of polymicrobial carriage patterns, independent of confounding factors, supports the existence of active interspecies interactions.
  • Pneumococcal serotype replacement following PCV7 may influence or prevent changes in Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus carriage.
Abstract

Keywords:
Haemophilus influenzaeStaphylococcus aureusStreptococcus pneumoniaepneumococcal conjugate vaccineserotype replacement

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

15.7K
Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae09:12

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Published on: January 17, 2014

13.3K

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...
18
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...
29
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease...
37
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...
1.3K
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...
78
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
1.2K